BMW Group has announced its ongoing commitment to hydrogen as a key technology in the future of sustainable mobility. The company recently emphasized its continued research and development efforts focused on hydrogen-powered vehicles, showcasing its advancements in fuel cell technology. BMW views hydrogen as a complementary solution alongside battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in reducing carbon emissions in the transportation sector.
BMW highlights the advantages of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) over traditional electric vehicles in certain scenarios, particularly in areas where electric charging infrastructure is limited or where long-range driving is common. Hydrogen-powered vehicles can be refueled in just a few minutes and offer comparable performance to BEVs, without the limitations of long charging times. This makes hydrogen particularly appealing for larger vehicles and long-distance applications.
The company has been working on hydrogen technology for over two decades, with its most recent developments resulting in the BMW iX5 Hydrogen. This vehicle, which has undergone extensive testing, combines fuel cell technology with BMW’s fifth-generation eDrive electric motor, delivering a power output of up to 374 horsepower. The iX5 Hydrogen is equipped with two 700-bar tanks capable of storing up to six kilograms of hydrogen, giving it a driving range of several hundred kilometers on a single fill.
BMW plans to continue its efforts to bring hydrogen vehicles into series production, though widespread market adoption will depend on the expansion of hydrogen refueling infrastructure. In Europe, several countries have already begun developing hydrogen refueling stations, and BMW is actively working with industry partners to accelerate the rollout of hydrogen infrastructure worldwide.
The BMW iX5 Hydrogen is expected to play a key role in the company’s future lineup, offering an alternative to battery-electric vehicles and enabling a diversified approach to carbon neutrality in the automotive sector. BMW has also indicated that it will pursue additional collaborations and partnerships to further the development of hydrogen-powered vehicles and infrastructure.
BMW is committed to its goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050, and hydrogen is expected to be a significant part of this strategy, alongside its ongoing efforts in electrification and other sustainable mobility technologies.
