BMW H2R
Encyclopedia
Liquid hydrogen
Liquid hydrogen is the liquid state of the element hydrogen. Hydrogen is found naturally in the molecular H2 form.To exist as a liquid, H2 must be pressurized above and cooled below hydrogen's Critical point. However, for hydrogen to be in a full liquid state without boiling off, it needs to be...
fuel. Conceived and developed in the relatively short time of 10 months under the direction of Dr. Raymond Freymann
Raymond Freymann
Raymond Freymann is an engineering professor and researcher, born on May 30, 1952 in Esch-sur-Alzette , and has authored or co-authored more than 150 scientific publications...
, it has set nine international speed records at the Miramas Proving Grounds in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
The H2R’s 6.0-liter V-12 engine, which draws on BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
's Valvetronic
Valvetronic
The Valvetronic system is a variable valve timing system to offer continuous and precisely variable intake valve lift, from ~0 to 10 mm, and duration. It typically works in conjunction with the independent Double VANOS system that continuously varies the timing...
and Double-VANOS
VANOS
VANOS is an automobile variable valve timing technology developed by BMW in close collaboration with Continental Teves. VANOS varies the timing of the valves by moving the position of the camshafts in relation to the drive gear...
technology, is based on the 760i’s gasoline-fueled powerplant. This H2-powered high performer generates 232 hp, helping it to achieve a top speed of over 187.62 mph (301.9 km/h).
Technical data
On the high-speed track at Miramas the BMW H2R set nine international and FIA-ratified records with hydrogen combustion engines.
- Maximum speed: 300.175 km/h (186.52 mph)
- Engine: twelve-cylinder hydrogen concept engine
- Nominal engine power: 982 bhp
- Bodyshell: aluminiumAluminiumAluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
space frameSpace frameA space frame or space structure is a truss-like, lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. Space frames can be used to span large areas with few interior supports...
structure - Outer shell: carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic
- Vehicle dimensions: 5.4 metres (212.6 in) long, 2.01 metres (79.1 in) wide, 1.34 metres (52.8 in) high
- Vehicle weight including driver: 1560 kg (3,439.2 lb)
- Drag coefficientDrag coefficientIn fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment such as air or water. It is used in the drag equation, where a lower drag coefficient indicates the object will have less aerodynamic or...
(cw): 0.21
BMW Art Car Project: Your Mobile Expectations
In 2007, Olafur EliassonOlafur Eliasson
Olafur Eliasson is a Danish-Icelandic artist known for sculptures and large-scale installation art employing elemental materials such as light, water, and air temperature to enhance the viewer’s experience. In 1995 he established Studio Olafur Eliasson in Berlin, a laboratory for spatial research...
was commissioned by BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
to create the sixteenth art car for the BMW Art Car Project based on the H2R. Eliasson and his team removed the automobile's alloy body and instead replaced it with a new interlocking framework of reflective steel bars and mesh. Layers of ice were created by spraying approximately 530 gallons of water during a period of several days upon the structure. On display, the frozen sculpture is glowing from within. Called Your Mobile Expectations, the vehicle was on special display in a temperature controlled room at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a modern art museum located in San Francisco, California. A nonprofit organization, SFMOMA holds an internationally recognized collection of modern and contemporary art and was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th century art...
from September 8, 2007 to January 13, 2008.
Records
| Record | Time (s) | Speed |
| Flying-start kilometre | 11.99 | 187.62 mph (301.95 km/h) |
| Flying-start mile | 19.91 | 181.85 mph (292.66 km/h) |
| Standing-start 1/4 kilometre | 9.92 | 45.62 mph (73.42 km/h) |
| Standing-start 1/2 kilometre | 14.93 | 60.62 mph (97.56 km/h) |
| Standing-start 1/2 mile | 17.27 | 65.15 mph (104.85 km/h) |
| Standing-start mile | 36.73 | 98.6 mph (158.68 km/h) |
| Standing-start 10 miles (16.1 km) | 221.05 | 163.81 mph (263.63 km/h) |
| Standing-start kilometre | 26.56 | 84.72 mph (136.34 km/h) |
| Standing-start 10 kilometre | 146.41 | 153.9 mph (247.68 km/h) |
Publications
- R. Freymann, W. Strobl, J. Kübler; Hydrogen Technology in Automotive Engineering: Sustainable, Clean and Powerful. Conf. Proc. of the „First Austrian Hydrogen Conference“, HYCentA, Graz (Austria), 10-11 Oct. 2005