Munich. The BMW Group is systematically pushing
forward with development of hydrogen fuel cell technology as an
additional option for sustainable individual mobility. Two years after
unveiling the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT concept car, the company will
present the BMW iX5 Hydrogen at the IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich.
Currently still in series development, the Sports Activity Vehicle
(SAV) with hydrogen fuel cell drive train will be one of several
vehicles visitors can experience as they are driven along the Blue
Lane connecting the main exhibition grounds with other exhibition
venues in the city centre.
A small series of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, developed on the basis of the
BMW X5, will be used for demonstration and testing purposes from the
end of next year. Its hydrogen fuel cell system is further proof of
the BMW Group’s leading development expertise in the field of electric
drive technologies. “With its high-performance fuel cell and
optimised power battery, the BMW iX5 Hydrogen’s drive system is
unique in the world,” said Juergen Guldner, head of BMW
Group Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology and Vehicle Projects. “With this,
we are forging new paths for sustainable driving pleasure.”
With the right conditions, hydrogen fuel cell technology has the
potential to become a further pillar in the BMW Group’s drive train
portfolio for local CO2-free mobility. The BMW i brand, which is
entirely geared towards locally emission-free mobility, could in the
future also offer vehicles with hydrogen fuel cell drive trains, in
addition to battery-electric models such as the BMW i3, BMW iX3, BMW
iX and BMW i4. Provided the hydrogen is produced using renewable
energy and the necessary infrastructure is available, this technology
can complement the BMW Group’s electrified drive train portfolio –
and, in particular, meet the needs of customers who do not have their
own access to electric charging infrastructure, frequently drive long
distances or desire a high degree of flexibility.
Model-specific design elements 3D-printed for locally
emission-free Sports Activity Vehicle.
The BMW iX5
Hydrogen is a modern luxury Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) that
combines ground-breaking drive technology with the powerful
proportions, convenience and versatility of a BMW X model.
Individual exterior and interior design elements
highlight the car’s ties to the BMW i brand, as well as its specific
drive technology. The inner edging of the BMW kidney grille, the
inserts in the 22- inch aerodynamic wheels and the attachments in the
outer portion of the rear apron are all in BMW i Blue. The entry sills
and cover trim for the instrument panel also sport a “hydrogen fuel
cell” badge.
The mesh inserts covering the cooling air openings at the front of
the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, as well as the rear apron and its diffuser
element, also have their own unique design. The ornamental grilles
covering the BMW kidney grille, the lower and two outer air inlets and
the body elements for the lower rear end trim all come from the BMW
Group’s Additive Manufacturing Campus, which uses 3D printing to
produce prototype and standard parts. Additive manufacturing enables
fast and highly flexible production of components – some of which have
geometric shapes that cannot be realised with conventional production methods.
Systematic sustainability: Aerodynamic wheels and tyres made
of natural rubber.
The BMW iX5 Hydrogen’s aerodynamic wheels come with sustainably
produced tyres made of natural rubber and rayon. The raw materials for
this are extracted in compliance with the standards of the independent
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) organisation. The BMW Group is the
first automotive manufacturer worldwide to use Pirelli tyres made
exclusively from certified natural rubber and the wood-based material
rayon in its production vehicles.
Hallmark BMW driving dynamics, strong long-distance capabilities.
The BMW iX5 Hydrogen combines fuel cell technology with a
fifth-generation BMW eDrive. The drive system uses hydrogen as fuel by
converting it into electricity in a fuel cell – delivering an
electrical output of up to 125 kW/170 hp, with water vapour as the
only emission. This drive power also enables it to maintain
consistently high speeds over longer distances. The
electric motor was developed from the fifth-generation BMW eDrive
technology also used in the BMW iX. In coasting overrun and braking
phases, it serves as a generator, feeding energy into a power battery.
The energy stored in this power battery is also utilised for
particularly sporty driving manoeuvres – delivering a system
output of 275 kW/374 hp and guaranteeing the brand’s
signature driving experience.
The hydrogen needed to supply the fuel cell is stored in two 700-bar
tanks made of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), which together
hold almost six kilograms of hydrogen. “Filling up the
hydrogen tanks only takes three to four minutes – so there
are no limits on using the BMW iX5 Hydrogen for long distances, with
just a few, short stops in-between,” explains Guldner.
Hydrogen as part of global activities for CO2-free
mobility.
According to a report by the International
Energy Agency (IEA), hydrogen offers considerable potential as
a future energy source in connection with global energy
transition activities. Thanks to its storage and transport
capabilities, hydrogen can be used for a wide variety of applications.
Most industrialised countries are therefore adopting hydrogen
strategies and backing them up with roadmaps and concrete projects. In
the transport sector, hydrogen can become a further technology option,
alongside battery-electric mobility, for shaping sustainable
individual mobility in the long term. However, this will depend on
competitive production of sufficient quantities of hydrogen from green
power, as well as expansion of the corresponding filling
infrastructure, which is already being intensively pursued in many countries.
The BMW Group welcomes and supports activities to promote innovation
in Germany and Europe that will help build a hydrogen economy and
accelerate production of green hydrogen. These specifically include
the large-scale hydrogen projects classified as Important Projects of
Common European Interest (IPCEI). The projects that comprise this
European Union initiative, supported in Germany by the Federal
Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Transport,
span the entire value chain – from hydrogen production to transport to
applications in industry.