BMW today announced that the influential J.D. "Dave" Power III, founder of J.D. Power and Associates and board member of Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc., is the latest high-visibility eco-friendly ambassador to receive keys to a BMW Hydrogen 7 - the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan. Power is the most recent member of the BMW Hydrogen 7 Pioneer Program, which gives industry leaders and prominent figures in entertainment, politics, business and more a BMW Hydrogen 7 for their daily use for three weeks.
Only a very few manufacturers have made substantial investments in hydrogen fuelled internal combustion engines, including BMW," said Power. "Hydrogen technology is moving along and appears to be a viable alternative to petroleum fuelled internal combustion engines and one of the answers to the future of emission-free vehicles."

J.D. Power and Associates recently issued an Alternative Powertrain Study, charting consumers' inclinations toward alternative fuel vehicles for the past two years. The study finds that consumer consideration for purchasing clean energy vehicles, which were newly introduced to the market in 2007, is at 73 percent which is up from 2006, where only 69 percent of shoppers considered purchasing clean energy vehicles.

While the BMW Hydrogen 7 is not for sale, it is considered to be a milestone in bringing forward hydrogen as the sustainable fuel for individual transportation. Running in hydrogen mode, the BMW Hydrogen 7 essentially emits nothing but water vapor, representing a major step in reducing harmful CO2 emissions. It is not a concept car, but a production model vehicle that has successfully completed the entire Product Development Process.

BMW believes that hydrogen will replace petroleum as the long-term alternative to fossil fuel, and hopes the Hydrogen 7 will play a pioneering role in driving forward the hydrogen technologies that will ensure our mobility in the future. By harnessing the power and influence of individuals who, like Dave Power, are at the forefront of their respective disciplines, BMW hopes to continue to generate support of hydrogen-drive vehicles in the short term and stimulate demand for a viable hydrogen infrastructure in the long-term.

A number of entertainers, politicians, business leaders and more have already opted for a BMW Hydrogen 7 as their energy-efficient ride of choice in order to evaluate the technology. Those who have recently chosen the vehicle include Will Ferrell, Jay Leno, opera star Placid Domingo, Ed Norton, Jason Bateman, and famed director Steve Gaghan, among others.