BMW iX5 Hydrogen fuel cells production commences
In Munich, Germany, the BMW Competence Center for Hydrogen has just started producing fuel cell systems for the iX5 Hydrogen. By the end of the year, it will release a limited-edition iX5 Hydrogen and distribute the models for testing and demonstration throughout the world.
In June 2021, BMW started testing the hydrogen fuel cell-powered iX5 prototype as part of its "i NEXT Hydrogen" initiative. This SUV shares a basis with the already available, combustion-powered X5. It also makes use of a fuel cell system, an electric motor, and two hydrogen tanks. The German company has teamed with Toyota Motor Corporation to source the individual fuel cells, it should be mentioned.
One of the key components of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, this technology produces a high continuous output of 170PS. It combines a high-performance battery designed specifically for this car and an electric motor that uses fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology to allow its powertrain to produce 374PS.
The BMW Group's vast expertise with the use of hydrogen as a driving technology provides the foundation for the remarkable testing results of this new small-scale series of vehicles. Prior to the development of fuel cell technology, hydrogen-powered combustion engines were already in use. Efficiency concerns led the BMW Group to continue research and development in this field beginning in 2015 with the fuel cell-based BMW 5 Series GT Hydrogen Cell.
Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG said "As a versatile energy source, hydrogen has a key role to play on the road to climate neutrality. And it will also gain substantially in importance as far as personal mobility is concerned. We think hydrogen-powered vehicles are ideally placed technologically to fit alongside battery-electric vehicles and complete the electric mobility picture. By commencing small-scale production of fuel cells today, we are demonstrating the technical maturity of this type of drive system and underscoring its potential for the future."
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