New BMW X5 also comes as an iX5 Hydrogen!
Hydrogen hugely important
“Hydrogen plays a vital role in global decarbonization, which is why we are committed to advancing the technology,” said Joachim Post, BMW AG Board Member for Development, at a BMW event in New York.
“Hydrogen is recognized as a promising future energy carrier for global decarbonization. It acts as an effective storage medium for renewable energy sources, helps balance supply and demand, and enables more stable and reliable integration of renewable energy into the energy grid. Hydrogen is the missing piece to complete the puzzle of electric mobility where battery-electric drive systems are not an optimal solution.”
Lots of flavors
A broad portfolio of drive systems – including internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids, battery-electric drive systems and, starting with the new BMW iX5 Hydrogen in 2028, hydrogen fuel cell technology – forms the basis for successfully meeting the diverse requirements and needs of customers worldwide, both now and in the future.
Major change starting in 2028
Flexible production structures and high levels of integration expertise make it possible to efficiently implement this range of drive technologies in the new BMW X5 range in terms of, procurement and production. This means that from 2028, the BMW model line will include two types of all-electric powertrains (battery-electric and hydrogen-fuel cell), underscoring the consistent application of the brand’s technology-open approach.
The new BMW iX5 Hydrogen
Following successful pilot fleet testing worldwide, the new BMW iX5 Hydrogen will enter the market as the brand’s first series-produced hydrogen-powered model. The propulsion technology is based on the third-generation fuel cell system that the BMW Group is developing in cooperation with the Toyota Motor Corporation.
These technological advances produce a system with a more compact design that is also more powerful and efficient, giving a higher range and power while reducing energy consumption. BMW’s competence centers in Munich and at the BMW Group Factory Steyr are already building the first prototypes. Further drive system components will come from the BMW Group factory in Landshut.
HyMoS initiative
In addition to developing the new BMW iX5 Hydrogen, BMW is also actively involved in efforts to expand the network of hydrogen refueling stations. The HyMoS (Hydrogen Mobility at Scale) initiative was established to support hydrogen infrastructure for mobility in cooperation with industrial and institutional partners. The goal of this initiative is to increase the economic feasibility of hydrogen mobility systems by aggregating demand for all types of vehicles, including trucks, buses and passenger cars. This will help achieve optimal distribution and utilization of hydrogen fueling stations. The initiative supports existing hydrogen infrastructure projects to reach their full potential by sharing experiences between projects and providing support for industry partners. A pilot phase has started supporting existing infra systems in Germany and France to gather experiences for implementation in further urban areas and possible later expansion to other countries.
