BMW's research and technology arm, BMW Group Forschung und Technik, along with numerous partners (see list below) from other car manufacturers and European aerospace industry, have developed a new type of tank made of composite material for storing liquid hydrogen. Using such materials allows the tank to be reduced in size by a third compared to conventional cylindrical steel tanks currently in use. Additionally, the electronic auxiliary systems have been integrated into the tank's outer casing. The result is a tank that occupies less space in the car, is easier to produce and easier to maintain.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Raymond Freymann, Director of BMW Group Forschung und Technik: “The demonstration model of the new free-form tank being presented marks an important step forward into the hydrogen future. Filled with ten kilograms of hydrogen, it could allow a range well in excess of 500 kilometres in a future vehicle.”

Over the past four and a half years, the cost of the project to advancing current hydrogen storage technologies (high-pressure, liquid and solid storage) was 18.7 million euros, with EU funding to the sum of 10.7 million euros. Presentation of the LH2 lightweight formtank is currently under way at the final event of the “StorHy” EU project in Poissy near Paris.

 

Why can we only spend a measly 10.7 million of our tax money on this and blow billions and billions on all kinds of useless and utopian public transport projects in the EU, this stuff pisses me off so bad. I believe Mercedes Benz invested 7 billion euros in developing the current E-Class, imagine where we would be if that kind of funds were made available for R&D geared towards hydrogen technology.

Props for BMW though for trying to move things forward, if there is one company I have faith in to come up with a brilliant solution it's BMW.