The launch of the BMW Hydrogen 7

The current worries about climate change have prompted many people to change the way they are living and working, such as recycling more or buying eco car insurance. Likewise, many of the major car manufacturers have slowly been changing tack from designing bigger and better 4x4s to working towards creating greener motoring technology, and BMW is no exception.

As one of the best-known prestige brands, you wouldn't necessarily think of BMW as being a proponent of the eco-friendly movement. Most people associate small, modest cars with being better for the environment, not the larger luxury performance motors that sit on BMW garage forecourts across the world.

However, it seems that BMW is trying to get the message across that motorists may not have to sacrifice their big, high-status cars in the pursuit of ethical motoring. Performance and eco-friendliness are not mutually exclusive ideas when it comes to cars; and BMW is ready to prove it with its Hydrogen 7 model.

For some months now, BMW has been gently introducing the idea to the US public, who are well known for their love of the large, powerful status cars. It has been doing this by loaning its impressive Hydrogen 7 to celebs heading to their film premieres and A-list parties. Stars such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Richard Gere and Sharon Stone, and David Guggenheim (of climate change docu-film 'An Inconvenient Truth') are amongst the names to have graced the seats of the Hydrogen 7.

However, this revolutionary BMW has only been making relatively brief appearances at these high status events and its role has been basically that of a taxi. It isn't like the celebs have been driving around in the Hydrogen 7 every day, experiencing its upsides and downsides, and generally getting to know it. So, as far as the celebrity seal of approval goes, things have been rather limited, although it has served its purpose of raising awareness of hydrogen motoring technology amongst the general public.

All that is about to change with the launch of BMW's Hydrogen 7 Pioneer Program. This scheme will see celebs and other notable figures leased a Hydrogen 7 to drive on the roads of the US and the UK on a day-to-day basis. August 2007 saw the first set of car keys go to Will Ferrell, who shot to fame as a performer on Saturday Night Live.

The thing about the Hydrogen 7 is that it looks like your average luxury saloon, but has none of the nasty emissions (when it is running on hydrogen at least). It has the sleek looks, the refined interior, all the performance you could possibly want; but underneath it all, there lies a petrol tank, a hydrogen tank and a combustion engine. When the petrol fuels the engine, all runs as usual. However, when the driver presses a certain H2 button, the car miraculously goes into eco mode, and all that is released into the atmosphere is water vapour.

Even though BMW is quick to say that the Hydrogen 7 has made the leap between concept car and production model, there have only been 100 manufactured so far and these are firmly reserved for lease by celebs who will raise the profile of the car. It seems that your average motorist will have to wait a few years more before they can purchase the BMW Hydrogen 7.

Even if they can't have one of their own yet, many eco-worried drivers will be glad to see that the first steps toward creating a viable hydrogen-fuelled car have been taken. However, when the car is ready for a major release to the public, the only problem is going to be where to find the nearest garage with a hydrogen pump.

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