BMW and GM Car Fuel Cell Partnership Expected

German carmaker BMW and US automotive firm GM are reportedly close to announcing a partnership that would see them jointly manufacture fuel cell technologies.

Both news organisation Bloomberg and Wirtschaftswoche, a German magazine, have covered the potential BMW and GM fuel cell tie-up, reporting that discussions are now at an advanced level.

If established, it seems the deal would give BMW access to fuel cell systems produced by GM, while the German firm would help meet the cost of developing them. "We are exploring various topics related to future technologies, such as fuel cells", BMW representative Mathias Schmidt stated in comments quoted by Bloomberg, without mentioning any intended timeframe.

Car Fuel Cell Tie-Up

According to Wirtschaftswoche, however, the January 2012 Detroit Motor Show could see the car fuel cell tie-up deal formally announced.

While BMW has previously explored hydrogen-powered vehicle technologies, it has never before ventured into fuel cells, which produce electricity from the chemical energy contained in fuel.

More and more, motor firms are forming eco-themed technology partnerships as a form of risk management exercise and to ensure compliance with various governmental emissions criteria put in place around the world. Just days ago, news emerged of a similar deal established with Japan's Toyota, through which it will progress electric battery technologies. Even more recently, GM unveiled a plan to collaborate with an unnamed firm in Japan, to move carbon fibre car parts forward into the mainstream.

Separately, GM has its hand in a wide range of other green car programmes, involving subjects as diverse as wifi-based vehicle charges and battery-powered public transport.

GM and BMW Fuel Cells

General Motors has so far declined to comment on the GM and BMW fuel cell news, while, speaking for BMW, another representative said on 10 December: "We are speaking to GM about various future technologies but we are not saying anything more beyond that."

In October 2011, Enviro News looked at Nissan's Next Generation Fuel Cell design. Incorporating a number of green advances, the 2011 Fuel Cell updates an earlier Nissan design.