Skip to content

Hydrogen: Not as Green as it Seems

BMW.jpg

BMW’s new hydrogen-powered luxury sedan is about as environmentally-friendly as a diesel truck. Spiegel reports:

The new car caters to the pleasing fantasy of customers spoiled by high-horsepower engines: That they can conform to ecological standards without making any sacrifices, burning “clean” fuel to their heart’s content. Advertising images display the Hydrogen 7 against a backdrop of wind turbines and solar panels. But the image is one of deceit. Because the hydrogen dispensed at the new filling station is generated primarily from petroleum and natural gas, the new car puts about as much strain on the environment as a heavy truck with a diesel engine.

Photo of Jason Varone
Jason Varone battles the streets everyday during a 9 mile commute on his bicycle from downtown Brooklyn to the Upper East Side. In addition to his efforts on Streetsblog, he is an artist making work related to the environment and technology. Examples of his work can be found at www.varonearts.org.

Read More:

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday Video: Inside the Global Far-Right Push To Rip Out Bike Lanes

October 23, 2026

Friday’s Headlines Shoot Themselves in the Foot

October 23, 2026

Talking Headways Podcast: A More Humanized Experience in Honolulu

October 22, 2026

Our Best Bet To Confront Climate Change in the Trump Era? Build More Apartments

October 22, 2026

What ‘Flying Cars’ Could Mean For US Car Culture

October 22, 2026
See all posts