Jay Leno set to drive the BMW Hydrogen 7 on U.S. roadways

[LeMansX5]

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – September 17, 2007… BMW today announced that Jay Leno became the latest person to receive keys to a BMW Hydrogen 7 – the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan. The Emmy-winning comedian and host of The Tonight Show received his BMW Hydrogen 7 at his famed car garage in Burbank, California, which is fittingly a “green garage” that receives a great deal of its energy from steam power.
“As an avid car enthusiast I’m always interested in the future of automotive technology. With the BMW Hydrogen 7 I can experience all the fun and great features of a performance car, yet know that I’m being environmentally friendly at the same time! I look forward to driving the Hydrogen 7 and learning more about hydrogen as a fuel for our future.”

In his “green garage,” Jay uses giant steam and natural gas engines from the 19th century to effectively reduce his energy needs – transforming his garage into a self-sufficient power station. According to Jay, there is no reason why a garage full of old cars can't be environmentally responsible, even if it means having to go back more than a century for the technology. Working with expert consultants in a variety of fields to analyze his garage’s energy use and devise alternative energy systems, Jay is committed to upgrading his nearly 20,000-sq.-ft. garage with the latest environmentally friendly shop equipment and products – and driving the BMW Hydrogen 7 is his latest example of this.

Running in hydrogen mode, the BMW Hydrogen 7 essentially emits nothing but water vapor, representing a major step in reducing harmful CO2 emissions. It is not a concept car, but a production model vehicle that has successfully completed the entire Product Development Process. While the BMW Hydrogen 7 is not for sale, it is considered to be a milestone in bringing forward hydrogen as the sustainable fuel for individual transportation.

BMW believes that hydrogen will replace petroleum as the long-term alternative to fossil fuel, and hopes the Hydrogen 7 will play a pioneering role in driving forward the hydrogen technologies that will ensure our mobility in the future. Through a program dubbed the Hydrogen 7 Pioneers Program, BMW is giving industry leaders and prominent figures in entertainment, politics, business and more a BMW Hydrogen 7 for their daily use.

The hydrogen pioneers will be instrumental in helping people understand that hydrogen technology is here, it is now and it is what BMW Group believe holds the key to our future mobility. By harnessing the power and influence of individuals who, like Leno, are at the forefront of their respective disciplines, BMW hopes to continue to generate support of hydrogen-drive vehicles in the short term and stimulate demand for a viable hydrogen infrastructure in the long-term.

Leno is one of the first Americans who BMW plans to announce in the coming months that will help the company in its mission to build widespread support of hydrogen as a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

While Leno and BMW’s hydrogen pioneers will be the first group to be given access to the BMW Hydrogen 7 in the U.S. for a longer period of use, a number of entertainers, politicians, business leaders and more have opted for a BMW Hydrogen 7 as their energy-efficient ride of choice. Those who have recently chosen the vehicle include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the “Ocean’s 13” premiere in Hollywood; Fox Entertainment Chairman Peter Liguori at the FOX All-Star Party in Santa Monica; Richard Gere and Sharon Stone at the Cinema for Peace Gala in Berlin; and “An Inconvenient Truth” producer Davis Guggenheim (Oscar® for the best Documentary Feature) and Best Foreign Language Film Oscar® winner, director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck at the 2007 Academy Awards; among others. The vehicle has also made an impact oversees, with luminaries such as Michael Glos, German Federal Minister for Economy and Technology, and Günter Verheugen, Vice President of the European Commission, world renowned soprano Anna Netrebko and many others covering more than 1.3 million miles worldwide till now.

[Quicksilver]

Interesting:

A person who needs nothing again given something. Why not give this vehicle to avarage people who can afford it. That way the average person could be instrumental in helping people understand that hydrogen technology is here.

IMHO entertainers, politicians, business leaders and more have not contact with the average joe and will never interact one on one and pass the word.

[LeMansX5]

I could have been that average Joe.

[vegasX5]

I would tend to agree but Jay Leno is a widely known auto enthusiast that has access to millions of viewers on a daily basis. I imagine that a good majority trust his opinion and will follow suit of his decisions based on his popularity and perceived aficianado of autos' status. I would trust his endorsement of an h-car waayyy sooner than say Conan O'Brian or some random middle class citizen that may or may not even know who Chris Bangle is.

[Thunder22]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

Interesting:

A person who needs nothing again given something. Why not give this vehicle to avarage people who can afford it. That way the average person could be instrumental in helping people understand that hydrogen technology is here.

IMHO entertainers, politicians, business leaders and more have not contact with the average joe and will never interact one on one and pass the word.

because if they gave it ot you or me, the headlines would read "joe schmoe gets new bmw"....

[Quicksilver]

I suppose your right but some how i would have a better connection with say LeMansX5, or Josh, or John, or Ect Ect. But I in all honesty wouldn't trust his opinion and will follow suit of his decisions based on his popularity and perceived aficianado of autos' status. But that's just me.

Originally Posted by vegasX5

I would tend to agree but Jay Leno is a widely known auto enthusiast that has access to millions of viewers on a daily basis. I imagine that a good majority trust his opinion and will follow suit of his decisions based on his popularity and perceived aficianado of autos' status. I would trust his endorsement of an h-car waayyy sooner than say Conan O'Brian or some random middle class citizen that may or may not even know who Chris Bangle is.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

Why not give this vehicle to avarage people who can afford it.

Because Joe Average can't afford to fill it up, even if the car is free.

Originally Posted by web source

The BMW Hydrogen 7 holds approximately 8 kilograms of liquid hydrogen. The car consumes about 15 miles per kilogram for a total cruising range of 120 miles, BMW says....At $10.30 per kilogram, hydrogen fuel is no bargain

Sourced from the web, and those prices were in 2006. Not only is it many times the price to run compared to a standard model, but you need the mobile tanker truck that they are stationing in your neighbourhood just to fill it up every 120 miles. I suspect the tanker truck doesn't run on hydrogen.....

What a crock. If we want to move to hydrogen, let's just go straight to fuel cells and skip the IC nonsense. Also, let's not make hydrogen out of fossil fuels, and somehow pretend that these cars are clean.

Just my $0.02

[Quicksilver]

When i said afford it, that means the ability to fill it with fuel and maintain it just like the rest of us regular folks around here do.

BTW as for the rest of your 2 cents

Originally Posted by JCL

Because Joe Average can't afford to fill it up, even if the car is free.


Sourced from the web, and those prices were in 2006. Not only is it many times the price to run compared to a standard model, but you need the mobile tanker truck that they are stationing in your neighbourhood just to fill it up every 120 miles. I suspect the tanker truck doesn't run on hydrogen.....

What a crock. If we want to move to hydrogen, let's just go straight to fuel cells and skip the IC nonsense. Also, let's not make hydrogen out of fossil fuels, and somehow pretend that these cars are clean.

Just my $0.02

[Wagner]

M & I have been there done that

[Michelle]

Originally Posted by Wagner

M & I have been there done that