In February of this year, the BMW iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet embarked on a significant hot-weather testing endeavour in the United Arab Emirates, marking its first foray into such extreme conditions. Despite temperatures soaring to 45°C, challenging encounters with sand, dust, varying gradients, and fluctuating humidity levels, the car’s fuel cell drive system performed remarkably well.
The efficiency of the fuel cell system, two hydrogen tanks, electric motor, and power battery, alongside the central vehicle control unit, demonstrated exceptional performance. BMW’s development team in Munich rigorously evaluated the functionality of all electric systems under these extreme conditions and assessed the cooling power necessary to maintain peak vehicle performance. The fleet maintained the renowned BMW driving dynamics even under these challenging circumstances.
Units from the pilot fleet are currently operating in diverse regions worldwide, including Europe, Japan, Korea, China, the USA, and the Middle East. The primary objective is to underscore the practicality of hydrogen-powered vehicles in everyday use while gaining crucial insights for the potential development of a production model. The BMW Group is leveraging this pilot fleet to support the regional development of a refueling infrastructure compatible with 700-bar refueling technology, catering to various vehicle categories from passenger cars to heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Exploring synergies across applications is also crucial for establishing a robust hydrogen technology supplier network and cost reduction.
The BMW iX5 Hydrogen excels in combining long-distance capabilities with quick refueling stops, all while ensuring emissions-free driving. Pending the necessary framework, hydrogen fuel cell technology holds significant promise as a pivotal element within the BMW Group’s future drive system portfolio.
As part of its ongoing transformation, the BMW Group adheres to a “technology-open” philosophy concerning drive systems. This approach allows the company to adapt swiftly to diverse customer demands, infrastructure standards, and regional political and regulatory landscapes. Such flexibility positions the BMW Group to promptly respond to market changes and consistently offer compelling options to a wide range of customers.
The BMW iX5 Hydrogen features a fuel cell system generating an output of 170hp, employing the fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology, where the electric motor, transmission, and power electronics are integrated into a compact housing. The overall drive system yields an impressive output of 401hp. Hydrogen for the fuel cell is stored in a pair of 700-bar tanks constructed from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), collectively capable of holding approximately six kilograms of hydrogen. This storage capacity translates into an impressive range of 504km in the WLTP cycle.
