BMW Hydrogen Car Has "near-zero Emissions"

[SuaveX5]

Argonne (IL) - The BMW Hydrogen 7 Mono-Fuel test vehicle has been rated by the US Department of Energy as a super-ultra low-emission vehicle (SULEV), the highest designation for energy efficiency.

The tests were done at the DOE's National Laboratory in Argonne, Illinois. The man in charge of hydrogen vehicle testing, Thomas Wallner, said the emissions from the Hydrogen 7 vehicle were "only a fraction" of the level required for the SULEV level.

He also noted that the car's 12-cylinder engine sometimes had emission levels that were cleaner than "ambient air" that entered the engine.

The testing center said the car had "near-zero emissions," and it required special technology just to be able to measure it.
BMW commented on the results saying that it is "pushing the boundaries of emissions testing," adding that the next major hurdle is adding more hydrogen fueling stations throughout the US.

[JCL]

The problem is that BMW is measuring tailpipe emissions. If we had hydrogen available as a fuel, that would be fine. Since we don't, it is more realistic to consider total emissions, including those involved in producing the hydrogen being consumed. Using that yardstick, and realizing that hydrogen is currently produced from fossil fuels, the vehicle is likely no cleaner than a current production vehicle. Makes good advertising copy though.