The BMW iX5 was introduced last year. The company announced that the vehicle is a concept car, but will also be produced in limited numbers. After an extensive final development phase, the company has announced that it has started producing hydrogen-based fuel cells at its headquarters in Munich. Chairman Oliver Zipse and Development Board Member Frank Weber attended the celebration event organized by the company.
BMW iX5 Hydrogen enters small series production
The experimental BMW iX5 Hydrogen is powered by a pair of electric motors (one at each axle) with a combined output of 369bhp. The company’s fifth-generation eDrive motors also feature on the i7 and iX electric cars. However, instead of pulling stored electrical energy from a battery pack like a conventional electric car, the iX5 generates its electricity through a chemical reaction between stored hydrogen and oxygen from the air via a fuel cell capable of generating up to 125kW.
Moreover, the same system is used to heat the cabin when needed. The fuel cell, developed in partnership with Toyota, is supplied by two 700-bar storage tanks occupying the space used by the gearbox and driveshaft in the combustion-engined X5. Together, the tanks can hold six kilograms of hydrogen.
After the vehicles that started production are ready, they will visit selected regions next spring to publicise the zero-emissions powertrain solution. So what are the advantages of hydrogen-powered vehicles over traditional EVs? The fuel-cell tech extreme used in the BMW iX5 does not lose performance in cold and hot temperatures and offers a much longer range.
Other potential advantages of hydrogen-electric vehicles is ack of a heavy lithium-ion battery pack and the stiffer suspension required to support it. This makes the vehicle much lighter and eliminates the risk of fire. BMW’s board member for production, said, if the current infrastructure issues are remedied, it could introduce hydrogen fuel cell technology on other vehicles in its line-up, such as the iX3, iX and i4.
However, the company will produce the iX5 in limited numbers and evaluate the potential before making a definitive decision for its future.
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