Makes › BMW › Hydrogen 7 (E65) · Rare specification Extremely Rare
BMW
Hydrogen 7 (E65)
Hydrogen-powered 7 Series leased to high-profile customers; lead gives 100 cars.
Still being researched: identification guide, full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Photo: Sachi Gahan from San Francisco, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 100 Built
- Years
- Not yet verified
- Engine
- Not yet verified
- Power
- 194 kW / 264 PSFactory: 260 hp · converted
- Top speed
- 230 km/hFactory: 143 mph · converted
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Not yet verified
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The Hydrogen 7 is a bi-fuel 7 Series that burns hydrogen in a combustion engine, not in a fuel cell. BMW presented it as the first production-ready hydrogen vehicle, but it was built as a limited test fleet and not offered for sale.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
BMW Hydrogen 7 (E65) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Sachi Gahan from San Francisco, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
BMW Hydrogen 7 (E65) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Mike Babcock from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada · CC BY 2.0
02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionHydrogen 7 cars planned for the initial loan fleet in the United States, Europe and Asia; a fleet count, not a sales count | 1001 | Factory production | Factory reported |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
BMW announced in 2006 that it would build a limited number of hydrogen-powered luxury performance cars in 2007. The 260 hp V12 ran on premium petrol or hydrogen. The hydrogen was stored as a liquid, about 8 kg, which BMW gave as a 120 mile range, and the 74-liter petrol tank added more range.
BMW planned 100 cars for loan in the United States, Europe and Asia. Cars.com reported that they would be leased to people chosen by BMW rather than sold.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard Hydrogen 7 (E65).
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Not yet verified |
| Cylinders | 122 Independently researched |
| Displacement | Not yet verified |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Fuel system | bi-fuel: hydrogen or premium-grade gasoline2 Independently researched |
| Power | 194 kW / 264 PSFactory: 260 hp · converted2,3 Independently researchedOnly the press report gives the rating standard as not stated; the level D blog repeats 260 hp. Not converted. |
| Power at | Not yet verified |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Not yet verified |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | Not yet verified |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 230 km/hFactory: 143 mph · converted3 Independently researchedOnly a level D blog gives this figure, so it is shown as unverified. From an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry. |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | 74 LFactory: 74 L4 Independently researchedThis is the petrol tank. The hydrogen store is separate (about 8 kg liquid hydrogen). |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
BMW Hydrogen 7 (BMW clean energy page) Level A BMW Group
- we're putting 100 of them to the test as loan cars
-
2
Coming soon: Hydrogen-powered BMW Level C CNNMoney.com · 2006-09-12
- 260-horsepower 12-cylinder internal combustion engine
- capable of running on either premium-grade gasoline or hydrogen
-
3
BMW Production Hydrogen car Level D Greener Machine (blog)
- 260hp V12 engine
- 143mph
-
4
Road Testing BMW's Hydrogen 7 Level C Wired
- 74-liter (19.5-gallon) gasoline tank
Keep exploring
More from BMW
-

BMW · 1940
328 Kamm Coupé
1 Built
-

BMW · 1939–1940
328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupé (Berlinetta)
1 Built
-

BMW · 2023
3.0 CSL (G82-based, 2023)
50 Built
-

BMW
M3 CRT (E90)
67 Built
More from Germany
-

Volkswagen · 2001–2003
New Beetle RSi
250 Built
-

Audi · 1989–1991
quattro 20V (RR)
934 Built
-

Porsche · 1939–1940
Type 64 (60K10) "Berlin–Rome"
3 Built
-

AMO · 1924–1931
AMO F-15
Production not yet verified
75 other makes from Germany9ffAdlerAgria-WerkeAlbertAMGAMOAmphicarApolloArtegaAudiAuto UnionAutomobili PininfarinaBayerische AutowerkeBenzBenz & Cie.BitterBohseBoldmenBorgwardBrabusBrennaborBrütschCarlssonChampionDaimler-Motoren-GesellschaftDauerDKWFMR (Messerschmitt)FuldamobilGemballaGepardGlasGoggomobilGoliathGumpertGutbrodHanomagHeinkelHorchHWAAll makes →