Ten hydrogen-powered cars will make their international debut in Dubai today on the first leg of the BMW Clean Energy World Tour. The BMW vehicles, called the 750hL, are part of a fleet of 15 built by the German car manufacturer which use a conventional internal combustion engine fuelled with liquid hydrogen. The engines were designed to be free from environmentally harmful exhaust emissions; steam is the sole byproduct.
With the flick of a switch, the 750hL can operate on conventional petrol without affecting performance.
The cars will also visit Brussels, Milan, Tokyo and Los Angeles as part of the tour. They will be presented to Dubai officials at the Burj Al Arab where up to 300 VIPs will be the first in the Middle East to test-drive them.
The event is supported by the Dubai-based Zayed International Prize for the Environment. Robert Bailey-McEwan, Managing Director of BMW Middle East, said, "These cars run on the safe and clean energy source of liquid hydrogen instead of petrol. The great attraction is that it's also the only 100 per cent clean fuel currently available.
"Hydrogen is found in abundance in water, and any type of water can be used to produce it, including seawater after desalination, and treated sewage water.
"To make the hydrogen producing process totally clean, solar energy is used to generate an electric current that is sent through the water, separating it into oxygen and hydrogen. It is then liquefied before being put into storage tanks and the cars are filled using a robotic filling station." He said Dubai could become a major player in the hydrogen-powered car market.
"All that is needed to produce hydrogen is water, sun and land, all of which are readily available in Dubai, and we believe countries on the earth's sunbelt, like Dubai, will become the world's future suppliers of hydrogen."
He added that although environmentally friendly hydrogen production is not as economical as current fuels, time will produce an answer.
"The key word in this question is yet," he said. "It may not be possible now, but the future will provide an answer. We will find one because there is no point in running hydrogen powered cars if the production method is not clean."
Dr Mohammed bin Fahed, Chairman of the Zayed International Prize, said petrol-powered motor vehicles are the largest source of air pollution.
"There is evidence that global warming and climate change are underway, affecting human health, habitats, wildlife and economies. The main cause of global warming is humans burning coal, oil and gasoline. If the trend is to be stemmed, it is necessary to switch to clean energy sources, including those for automobiles," he said.
He added that the Zayed International Prize for the environment encourages all technological advances that give hope for a better environment, and is collaborating with BMW Group to promote awareness about the urgent need for clean energy substitutes.
'Green' cars to make international debut in Dubai today
Ten hydrogen-powered cars will make their international debut in Dubai today on the first leg of the BMW Clean Energy World Tour.