Nikkei reports announcement pending on Toyota providing BMW with hydrogen fuel cell technology; BMW prototype by 2015
23 January 2013
The Nikkei reported that Toyota Motor Corp. is close to an agreement with BMW AG to provide that company with drivetrain and storage technology for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. In June 2012, the two companies had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at long-term strategic collaboration in four fields: joint development of a fuel cell system; joint development of architecture and components for a future sports vehicle; collaboration on powertrain electrification; and joint research and development on lightweight technologies. (Earlier post.)
Toyota, which has been developing such technology on its own since 1992, will be sharing it for the first time with another company. Under an agreement to be made official as early as Thursday, the Japanese automaker will provide BMW with drivetrain and hydrogen storage technology this year. BMW will use it to build a prototype vehicle by 2015, with plans for a market release around 2020.
Toyota, which has been developing fuel cell vehicles since 1992, plans to launch a fuel-cell vehicle by 2015 in Japan, the US and Europe.
Finally BMW is getting with it.
The i3 would be great with as a FCEV.
Posted by: Davemart | 23 January 2013 at 02:03 PM
Germany is also building a domestic Hydrogen infrastructure to fuel this type of vehicle. Wonder when we will get on the stick?
Posted by: Mannstein | 23 January 2013 at 02:23 PM
@Mannstein:
They are building enough hydrogen infrastructure to get going in California.
The effort is similar in scale to that in Germany.
The cars to use them will only gradually become available.
Posted by: Davemart | 23 January 2013 at 03:07 PM
What a waste of resources. Fuel Cell vehicles are not ready for prime time.(yet)
How would you like to be cooped up in an eggshell when one of those lets go?
Where are the fusion powered cars?
Posted by: Lucas | 23 January 2013 at 07:38 PM
@Lucas:
What is being rolled out are modest early networks designed for relatively few vehicles.
Some of the stations will be movable as demand increases and the early sites need upgrading.
You are apparently unaware of the extensive safety tests on hydrogen on board, since details are readily available and they are certainly no more dangerous than petrol cars.
It is obvious that you prefer to use prejudice rather than making the effort to find out what you are talking about.
It is fortunate that counsels such as yours did not prevail at the inception of, for instance, the electricity network or commercial aviation, which you would seemingly have held to be not yet ready for prime time.
Nothing is, until developed.
Posted by: Davemart | 24 January 2013 at 02:22 AM
Davemart:
You seem like a highly intelligent person, with considerable experience.
Like you, I was once convinced that Hydrogen was the automotive fuel of the future. Over time I began to read comments from people I had grown to respect, who advised caution. I spent a considerable amount of my computer time studying the pros and cons of Hydrogen.
Grudgingly, I slowly lost my bias toward H2 and developed a raging prejudice against it. I am no longer able to help myself. You will find me ranting on street corners all over America, carrying signs like; "HYDROGEN IS EEVILLE" and "DRINKING LIQUID HYDROGEN IS BAD FOR YOU"
Let me know when you have converted to our new, and exciting religion.
(Would you believe my IQ is in the top two tenths of one percent and I will be 81 years old next Monday?)
Posted by: Lucas | 24 January 2013 at 09:54 AM
For the us it doesnt matter a bit. Both bev and fc tech has plenty of time to mature because we managed to do well enough securing domestic sources of fuel to see us through to whatever we manage to build to replace ice engined cars.
About the only push right now is the milage rates and blah blah de blah that are pushing both bev and fc tech forward to fill the needs for cars that wont pass future reqs without those techs.
As they need these things both for cars suited for bev tech AND for cars suited for fc tech we will see both techs move forward quickly to fill the gaps the car makers have to fill.
The interesting bit is in places that dont have enough fuel supplies.. where new supplies are needed to fill the entire need. As both eltricity and h2 are useful extra fuel sources I expect we will see a forceful push into these things in various patterns where either eltricity or h2 are abundant enough/cheap enough.. and some realy nasty messes where both are spendy...
Posted by: wintermane2000 | 25 January 2013 at 07:45 AM
wintermane
Don't lose sight of the fact that Hydrogen is not an energy source. It is just a carrier and is very troublesome to transport and contain.
When I was a kid I made some and when I lit it I lost my eyelashes an eyebrows and never even saw what did it I never messed with it again.
Posted by: Lucas | 25 January 2013 at 10:23 PM
Thats why bush spent far more on transport tech then on fuel cell car tech so we would have BOTH ready and able at the same time.. AMAZING!
Mining equpement earth movers dump trucks steamrollers.. diggers blah de blah.. they will all need fuel and alot of it and batteries wont cut it and lets be honest we cant count on bio when we cant count on crops 10 years from now much less 50.
Posted by: wintermane2000 | 26 January 2013 at 08:28 AM