BMW Releases its Hydrogen Car at the IAA

BMW is focusing on hydrogen - also for passenger cars. The new BMW iX5 uses an H2 fuel cell drive and will be presented at the IAA with up to 374 hp, driving as a shuttle on the "Blue Lane" between the trade show and the city center. Market launch is in 2022 as a small series.

In the best case, sustainability and driving pleasure should complement each other. While German manufacturers VW and Mercedes are focusing entirely on electromobility for passenger cars, BMW is developing hydrogen fuel cell technology in parallel as an additional option. Two years after unveiling the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT concept vehicle, the company is presenting the BMW iX5 Hydrogen at IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich.

»With its high-performance fuel cell and optimized power battery, the BMW iX5 Hydrogen has a drive system that is unique in the world,« says Jürgen Guldner, Head of BMW Group Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology and Vehicle Projects.

The luxury class car, which is suitable for everyday use, does not differ from a combustion engine in purely external terms and is intended to be a high-quality city and family car, which BMW then calls a »Sports Activity Vehicle« (SAV). Developed on the basis of the BMW X5, the vehicle will be used in a small series for demonstration and testing purposes from the end of next year.

The hydrogen BMW has a peak output of 374 hp

The electric motor comes from the fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology and converts hydrogen into electricity via a fuel cell. The engine generates an electrical output of up to 125 kW/170 hp and releases water vapor as its only emission. With this drive power, high speeds can be maintained over longer distances. In thrust and braking phases, the engine becomes a generator and feeds energy back into the battery. This additional energy generates a system output of up to 275 kW/374 hp for particularly sporty driving maneuvers. The hydrogen required to supply the fuel cell is stored in two 700-bar tanks made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP). Together they hold just under six kilograms of hydrogen.

Hydrogen refueling in 4 minutes 

The BMW Group is focusing in particular on customers who do not have access to an electric charging infrastructure, who frequently travel long distances, or who want a high degree of flexibility. Purely electric vehicles still require a certain amount of planning and foresight on longer routes. Filling up the hydrogen tanks takes only three to four minutes.

Test drive at the IAA

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen is currently still in its series development process, but the H2 car can already be test-driven at the IAA. The Munich-based company is using it as a shuttle on the Blue Lane, which connects the exhibition grounds with the exhibition venues in the city center. Interested parties can sign up for it via the official IAA app.

BMW can imagine hydrogen-powered cars becoming a permanent part of its model range. So far, the BMW i3, BMW iX3, BMW iX and BMW i4 are already four battery-electric-powered models in the Bavarian Motor Works' lineup. According to BMW, H2 technology can be a complement to the BMW Group's electrified drive portfolio, provided that hydrogen is generated using renewable energy and the appropriate infrastructure is in place.