BMW Nears Deal to License Toyota Hydrogen Fuel Cell Tech for 2015 Prototype Vehicle

[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Nears Deal to License Toyota Hydrogen Fuel Cell Tech for 2015 Prototype Vehicle

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(Reuters) -- Toyota Motor Corp. is nearing a final agreement to license its fuel-cell vehicle technology to BMW AG, the Nikkei reported today.

Under the agreement, to be made official as early as Thursday, Toyota will provide the world's largest premium carmaker with drivetrain and hydrogen storage technology, the business daily said.

BMW will use the technology to build a prototype vehicle by 2015, with plans for a market release around 2020, the Nikkei said.

The two automakers have been expanding their r&d ties over the last year. In December 2011, they said they will work together on green car technologies, including the joint development of lithium-ion batteries. BMW would also supply diesel engines to Toyota in Europe as part of the tie-up, the companies said at the time.

Then last June, Toyota and BMW expanded the relationship by signing a memorandum to cooperate on developing fuel cells to power and designing components for a future sports car as the automakers expand on their joint work to produce next-generation car batteries.

Fuel cells convert a fuel, typically hydrogen, into electricity, which can then be used to power cars and trucks. Fuel-cell vehicles can run five times longer than battery electric cars on a single power-up, and it takes just minutes to fill the tank with hydrogen, compared with 8 hours or so to recharge a battery.

Rivals like Daimler AG, General Motors Co., Nissan Motor Co., Honda Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor Co. are all competing to develop fuel-cell vehicles, the daily said.

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[Desert_Fox]

Im a little surprised they are doing this, does Toyota believe BMW does not encroach on Lexus territory? Granted none of us would choose a Lexus over a BMW but we are a very small community of more fanatical Bimmer enthusiasts, unlike the typical consumer who buys a luxury car for the badge.

[3_runner]

Cool

[Majdnoon]

I like this a lot. I believe hydrogen fuel cells are leaps and bounds better than electric cars in terms of sustainable, green replacements for conventional cars. Good that BMW is making them now. Who knows... 2032 BMW Hydrogen M car anyone?

[Zebra99]

Originally Posted by Majdnoon

I like this a lot. I believe hydrogen fuel cells are leaps and bounds better than electric cars in terms of sustainable, green replacements for conventional cars. Good that BMW is making them now. Who knows... 2032 BMW Hydrogen M car anyone?

Ill be an old fart by then (47 haha) and I can afford it so why not!



Sorry to our "older" members.

[bimmerjph]

Slightly disappointing. I had hoped BMW would continue further with the hydrogen internal combustion engine. I believe that is the perfect compromise for car guys and environmentalists. It still has the characteristics of a petrol engine and it only contains a tiny tiny tiny fraction of pollutants in its emissions.

[Envyscorpio]

This is probably just a scam to get stock price up...

When's the last time these two worked well?

[red-sauerkraut]

Originally Posted by Zebra99

I'll be an old fart by then (47 haha) and I can afford it so why not!

Old fart at 47? Good Lord

At 47 I will be just getting started.

[dboucher30]

Originally Posted by Zebra99

Ill be an old fart by then (47 haha) and I can afford it so why not!



Sorry to our "older" members.

Lol, you'll still be young. Old is upper 60's.

I'll be 48

[CanAutM3]

The "ultimate driving machine" powered by the "ultimate boring machine" supplier. Hmmm





I know, I know, I am generalizing. But I still hate Toyotas.

[RL530xit]

Someone told me once that BMW was going to blow everyone's minds in 2015 with what they had up their sleeves. This is very interesting.

[antzcrashing]

Fuel cells are horribly inefficient. Why does BMW insist on wasting money on them.

[Ka razy]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

Old fart at 47? Good Lord

At 47 I will be just getting started.

People don't stop playing because they get old. They get old because they stop playing.

[ron_jeremy]

Wait, toyota is going to lease Hydrogen tech to BMW?!?
Strange, since BMW have been into Hydrogen tech since the 90's.
I still remember there were a fleet with E38's which were Hydrogen powered.
The Hydrogen tank was so isolated, that a cup of coffee would be hot for weeks i belive.
I guess it's politics?

[Levi]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

The "ultimate driving machine" powered by the "ultimate boring machine" supplier. Hmmm





I know, I know, I am generalizing. But I still hate Toyotas.

Good you know you are generalizing. Because since the M3 E92 you drive, BMW did not come up with any new "ultimate driving machine", while Toyota is bringing more and more: LFA, GS, IS, GT86, and RC, SC and Supra on tha way, while BMW 1 Series GT, 3 Series GT, X4, X2 FWD, etc...

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Levi

Good you know you are generalizing. Because since the M3 E92 you drive, BMW did not come up with any new "ultimate driving machine", while Toyota is bringing more and more: LFA, GS, IS, GT86, and RC, SC and Supra on tha way, while BMW 1 Series GT, 3 Series GT, X4, X2 FWD, etc...

That was the point of my post, BMW is getting less focused on delivering driver cars.

While I agree on the GT86, can't say I can for the LFA, GS, IS RC or SC...

[Levi]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

That was the point of my post, BMW is getting less focused on delivering driver cars.

While I agree on the GT86, can't say I can for the LFA, GS, IS RC or SC...

Well, Lexus hater's (Clarkson) favorite car is the LFA, what is significant at how good the car is. But that was just an exercise that is slowly by slowly trickling down to the normal cars, like GS, new IS and upcoming SC, and "affordable" LFA. Lexus has to focus on weight savings, something that BMW will come up with in the new M3/M4 and next 7 Series. Toyota could benefit from BMW CF expertise and economies of scale, LFA CF plant is expensive, all done inhouse.

I'm not discussing looks and image.

I just think both BMW and Toyota are the best car manufactures and both will benefit. They have to keep up against the VAG empire.