BMW Admits Hydrogen Isn’t Practical Fuel

But, Schmalholz doesn’t sound nearly as keen on the electric car concept as, for example, General Motors with the Chevrolet Volt. “We will only bring [the electric car to market] if it makes sense. At the moment, we are not really convinced it will work for BMW. But if t makes commercial sense and it makes sense to our customers, then we will do it.

Oddly, Schmalholz identifies the primary problem with hydrogen vehicles as distribution - exactly the same position taken by top executives at General Motors, who believe that as few as 200 hydrogen fueling stations strategically located would be able to serve over 40% of the driving population. Moreover, both GM and Honda have taken some steps toward developing home hydrogen refueling equipment, something BMW appears not to have contemplated undertaking.

Meantime, of course, General Motors appears to be getting the edge on BWM in another department: This year, participants at the Oscar ceremonies will be arriving in a fleet of GM vehicles, including E85 hybrids and the experimental hydrogen fuel cell Chevy Equinox.