6 September 2001: A concept Mini Cooper, to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show on 11 September, will give a glimpse into the future of fuel technology for smaller vehicles. The hydrogen powered Mini runs solely on hydrogen and shows the potential for a virtually zero emissions vehicle which still offers outstanding performance in an affordable package.

Mini Cooper Hydrogen’s engine uses internal combustion technology – like the BMW Clean Energy cars – and is based on the current 1.6 litre, four cylinder petrol unit. However, the Mini features a possible new injection process in which super-cooled liquid hydrogen is injected into the intake ducts where it mixes with air before entering the cylinders for ignition. Previously, the liquid hydrogen was heated to ambient temperature before combustion. This super-cooled mixture increases the cylinder charge, boosting both engine output and efficiency and offers a hydrogen engine that has the potential to match the standards of a modern petrol engine in every respect.

The car also features a breakthrough in alternative fuel packaging with a fuel tank that takes up the same space as a conventional fuel tank. To date, cylindrical tanks had to be used which take up passenger or luggage space.

Mini Cooper Hydrogen is the next chapter in BMW Group’s search for alternatives to conventional fuels. The BMW Group unveiled the first of its production hydrogen powered 7 Series models in 2000 and announced that it would be the world’s first manufacturer to offer series production hydrogen cars to customers.