The first BMW iX5 Hydrogen cars are already on the road after four years of development. The practical operation phase of this vehicle and development project is now underway.
The pilot fleet will be tested and demonstrated by a variety of target groups around the world throughout the course of the year. The development team will get invaluable real-world expertise about the car and the practical application of cutting-edge hydrogen fuel cell technology as a result.
The hydrogen fuel cell system created and manufactured by BMW is additional proof of the BMW Group’s leading technological capabilities in the field of electric motor technologies. The BMW Group is methodically moving hydrogen fuel cell technology forward as a potential future option for locally emissions-free private mobility.
Mobility sector transformation
The BMW Group is manufacturing extremely effective fuel cell systems at its own Munich-based hydrogen center of excellence in order to fully realize the potential of hydrogen. One of the most crucial parts of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen is this technology, which will significantly improve and alter the entire mobility industry.
Fuel cell technology
The BMW Group is a true innovator in the field of hydrogen fuel cell technology and is constantly advancing this fascinating advancement. In this procedure, the oxygen from the surrounding air and the gaseous hydrogen from the tanks interact chemically inside the fuel cell. High drive efficiency requires a consistent delivery of these two media to the membrane in the fuel cell.
With the new fuel cell system, the BMW Group has created specialized hydrogen components to go along with combustion engine-related technologies like the intercooler, air filter, control systems, and sensor technology.
A high-revving compressor with a turbine or a high-voltage coolant pump are two examples of these. The creation of a fuel cell stack is the first of two steps in the fuel cell manufacturing process. The remaining parts are then assembled to create a whole fuel cell system.
Individual fuel cells are delivered to the BMW Group by the Toyota Motor Company. These two businesses have been working together successfully for many years, and they started collaborating on fuel cell drives in 2013.
Quick refueling
The powertrain of this vehicle produces a maximum output of 295 kW / 401 hp when combined with a highly integrated drive unit in the fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology on the rear axis and a high-performance battery developed exclusively for the BMW iX5 Hydrogen with lithium-ion technology. This electric device also functions as a generator throughout the drive and braking phases, recharging a powerful battery.
Two 700-bar tanks made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic are used to hold the gaseous hydrogen needed to power the fuel cell (CFRP). With a combined capacity of six kilograms of hydrogen, the BMW iX5 Hydrogen has a WLTP cycle range of 504 kilometers. Even on lengthy routes, the BMW iX5 Hydrogen can be refueled in only three to four minutes and still provide the driving enjoyment you’ve come to expect from a BMW vehicle.
Diverse specialists involvement
The Munich Research and Innovation Centre’s pilot plant, or FIZ for short, is where the BMW iX5 Hydrogen is made. There, some 900 workers work in the body manufacturing, assembly, model engineering, concept vehicle building, and additive manufacturing departments to make sure the product and the production process are prepared to begin series production. The unique powertrain and energy storage technology in the case of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen is being integrated by experts in hydrogen technology, vehicle development, and initial assembly of new models.
Future energy will come from hydrogen
According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), hydrogen offers significant potential as an energy source of the future within the framework of global initiatives geared toward the energy transition. As a result of the commitment the BMW Group demonstrates in the area of hydrogen fuel cell technology, vast opportunities for the environment, resources, and the future for all of us are created.
In order to employ hydrogen fuel cell technology to add another column to the BMW Group’s drive system range for locally carbon-free mobility, the BMW Group supports a number of technologies to strengthen the hydrogen economy and enhance the generation of green hydrogen.
