As a fuel, hydrogen will make a major contribution towards sustainability and reducing environmental pollution in the transportation sector in the medium term. The first generation of hydrogen engines developed in a series process for the BMW Hydrogen 7 are bivalent engines, which can be operated with both hydrogen and gasoline. By implementing BIVANOS and VALVETRONIC systems initial difficulties involved in mixture formation and tendency to backfire could be solved and impressive engine results have been attained.

Using optical investigations, thermodynamically analysis and collateral simulations, BMWxs advanced powertrain development has achieved a solution to this conflict. Two direct-injection combustion concepts were developed for the elaboration of sophisticated powertrain concepts.

By performing tests in optical accessible engines and using the non-invasive optical measurement system AVL-VISIOLution, hydrogen-air mixture and the combustion process were optimized. These results were a basis for validating CFD-methods. For this test procedures in order to visualize the hydrogen injection process were developed and successfully deployed.

These perceptions were a footing for the single cylinder engine tests deployed simultaneously. As a result of that operation strategies were found, which offer the possibility of a virtual emission free operation within the entire operation range of the engine.

By the means of thermodynamical analysis tools, such as pressure curve analysis,1-dimensional flow simulation and detailed analysis of thermodynamical losses the potentials of such combustion concepts custom-engineered for hydrogen are shown and future perspectives are given.