BMW Releases Hydrogen-Powerd iX5

After four years in development, the BMW Group has released their first BMW iX5 hydrogen vehicles as part of an effort to accelerate transformation within the mobility sector using innovative fuel cell technology. Chairman of the Board of Management Oliver Zipse commented that ‘Hydrogen is a versatile energy source that has a key role to play in the energy transition process and therefore in climate protection.’ The vehicle is not for sale yet, the pilot fleet will be used for trial and demonstration purposes.

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen features Toyota fuel cells and the EV hardware of the BMW iX, along with a small 2.0-kWh battery. The gaseous hydrogen required to supply the fuel cell is stored in two 700-bar tanks made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). Together, they hold six kilograms of hydrogen, giving the BMW iX5 Hydrogen a range of 504 km in the WLTP cycle.

Highly Efficient Fuel Cell Systems

In combination with a highly-integrated drive unit in the fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology on the rear axis, as well as high-performance battery developed specifically for the BMW iX5 Hydrogen with lithium-ion technology, the powertrain of this vehicle brings maximum output of 295 kW / 401 hp to the road. In drive and brake phases, this electric machine also takes on the function of a generator that feeds power back into a high-performance battery.

The individual fuel cells are made by Toyota. However, all other components, including the stack of Toyota fuel cells, were developed by BMW with partners in Europe. Some components are supplied by the BMW plant in Landshut, for example. BMW manufactures the fuel cell systems at its own hydrogen competence centre in Munich. The output of such a fuel cell system is 125 kW.

Refuelling the hydrogen tanks takes only three to four minutes, meaning that the BMW iX5 Hydrogen delivers the driving pleasure you expect from BMW with just a few, short interim stops, even on long routes.

Diverse Specialists Participate in Production

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen is produced in the pilot plant in the Munich Research and Innovation Centre, or FIZ for short. Around 900 employees work there in the areas of body manufacture, assembly, model engineering, concept vehicle construction and additive manufacturing, ensuring that both the product and the production process are ready for market launch.

With its first hydrogen-powered vehicle released on roads worldwide for trial and demonstration purposes, BMW has made clear its intention to be at forefront of innovating within fuel cell technologies.