BMW is moving forward with the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology as an additional option in their range for drivers in the future. The company is set to present the BMW iX5 Hydrogen at the IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich next month. A small series of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, which has been heavily based on the BMW X5, will be used for demonstration and testing purposes from the end of 2022.
How does it all work?
The BMW iX5 Hydrogen combines fuel cell technology with the fifth-generation BMW electric drive system ('eDrive' in BMW-speak). This now uses hydrogen as fuel by converting it into electricity in a fuel cell - delivering an electrical output of up to 170hp. The only emissions from this process is water vapour. According to BMW, hydrogen power enables the car to maintain consistently high speeds over longer distances - e.g. on the German autobahn network.
The eDrive system in the BMW iX5 Hydrogen also acts as a generator during coasting and braking, feeding energy into a power battery. The energy stored in this power battery is also used for 'more engaging' driving manoeuvres - delivering an output of up to 374hp, which should help to keep brand purists happy. The hydrogen needed to supply the fuel cell is stored in two 700-bar tanks made of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic that together hold almost six kilograms of hydrogen.
Benefits of hydrogen
BMW already has an established number of battery-electric models such as the BMW i3, BMW iX3, BMW iX and BMW i4. Hydrogen fuel cell technology, however, brings some added benefits for drivers. In particular, it overcomes the need for access to an electric charging infrastructure, a particular issue for some. For drivers who frequently drive long distances, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can be filled with fuel in a similar fashion to a petrol or diesel vehicle. This means long trips can be completed with only a few short stops for refuelling along the way. That's the theory anyway.
Can I have one?
Currently, the BMW iX5 Hydrogen is not available to purchase. However, BMW has previously stated that if hydrogen-filling infrastructure were put in place it would aim to make hydrogen fuel cell vehicles available to the public from 2025. Other manufacturers, notably Toyota with its Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, have made their hydrogen cars available to the public. However, while the hydrogen-filling infrastructure is slowly growing it remains the most significant hurdle to overcome for widespread ownership.