Modified Fuel Cell iX5 Electric SUV Spearheads BMW’s Hydrogen Efforts

• BMW iX5 Hydrogen has begun production at the carmaker’s Munich plant. 

• Powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and e-motor with a combined output of 374PS. 

• Aesthetics and features are largely unchanged from the ICE-powered X5 SUV. 

• iX5 will not be available for private buyers, but it’ll be used to develop future Hydrogen EVs. 

BMW has been working on a special hydrogen-powered X5 SUV for a while now, testing it in different climates and perfecting a new technique for small-batch production. The carmaker has begun producing a small lot of iX5 fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) that will be used to demonstrate the carmaker's technologies from early 2023 onwards. 

While the iX5 itself will not be available to buy, it will spawn future Hydrogen-powered EVs from BMW. 

Why did BMW build a Hydrogen-powered X5?

Hydrogen cars have been around for over a decade, but they are still a tiny niche in the global automotive market, almost exclusively selling in select European and North American countries. There are several challenges to hydrogen cars, including the storage of the gas itself, procuring and supplying hydrogen at fuel stations and building cars at scale. 

BMW has developed new production techniques at its Munich plant, including a new small-scale manufacturing unit for the iX5 FCEVs. In addition, it has developed a fully sealed fuel cell stack that can be placed under the car’s bonnet at the front. It has an output of 170PS. The iX5 has two carbon-fibre reinforced hydrogen fuel tanks, one in the centre tunnel between the front seats and another below the rear seats. The EV battery is placed further rearward under the boot floor. 

The BMW iX5 is powered by the carmaker’s e-Drive system with a combined output of 374PS. 

Advantages of Hydrogen cars 

From the driver’s seat, a hydrogen-powered EV is quite similar to a battery electric car. But hydrogen car does have its advantages – it’s as quick to refuel as an ICE vehicle and tends to offer a longer range than most battery EVs. 

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However, owing to its sky-high research and development costs, a hydrogen is often more expensive than battery EVs. Besides, hydrogen filling stations are fewer and farther between than EV charging stations. 

There’s a long time before hydrogen EVs become practical for everyday users, but with the new iX5 Hydrogen, BMW is well-placed to cater to the demand when it emerges.