BMW i8 hydrogen fuel cell research prototype shows its face

Mitchell Jones

BMW has used its 2015 Innovation Days event to take the wraps off a villainous, clandestine i8 prototype featuring an advanced hydrogen fuel cell powertrain.

BMW i8 hydrogen fuel cell prototype-front

Originally completed three years ago as a test bed, this particular prototype was actually one of the pilot-build i8s, before being gutted of its already-futuristic drivetrain and restyled.

In lieu of the ‘cooking’ i8’s 1.5-litre turbocharged triple, this matt black monster has a fuel cell stack co-developed with Toyota. It feeds from a pressurised hydrogen tank sitting along the spine of the carbon fibre tub.

To telegraph that this isn’t an ordinary i8, thinner headlights and a trapezoidal grille treatment is used, with more angular taillights as well.

A 5 Series GT based fuel cell car was presented and available for journalists to drive. It featured new technologies such as a two-speed dual-clutch transmission, and 1kWh battery to supplement the 350-700 bar pressurised tank. This polished prototype is indicative of BMW and Toyota’s collaborative push to make hydrogen a realistic proposition by the end of the decade.

BMW is renowned for developing interesting, wacky and forward-looking prototypes in secret. In 1987, it made a 6.7-litre V16 7 Series generating 300kW and 637Nm, sent through a six-speed manual. The ‘767iL’ never saw the light of day.

Next Post

Is this the 2016 Toyota Prius? Intriguing images surface

Renderings have emerged showing what could be an accurate depiction of the 2016 Toyota Prius hybrid, featuring a sharp new design and an even more wagon-like rear end. According to Taiwanese website mobile.autonet.com.tw, the turquoise example represents the standard Prius, while the blue one is a plug-in hybrid. Consistent with […]

Subscribe Us Now