From pilot fleet to series production: the new BMW iX5 Hydrogen – AutoMart Canada

Munich. The BMW Group is launching a vehicle with
five different drivetrain technologies. The new BMW X5 will be the
first model to offer customers a choice of battery electric, plug-in
hybrid, petrol, diesel, and hydrogen fuel cell technology. The HyMoS
(Hydrogen Mobility at Scale) initiative is designed to promote the
development of hydrogen ecosystems and refueling stations in
metropolitan areas and aims for an initial pilot implementation in Germany.

“By launching the new BMW X5 with a choice of five drive system
variants, we are once again demonstrating our leading position as a
technology pioneer,” says Joachim Post, Member of the Board of
Management of BMW AG, Development at an BMW event in New
York. “Hydrogen has an essential part to play in global
decarbonisation, which is why we are committed to driving the
technology forward.”

Technology-open approach is a strategic success factor

Product diversity continues to be a key success factor for the BMW
Group. A wide-ranging portfolio of drive systems – encompassing ICE
engines, plug-in hybrids, battery electric drive systems and, starting
with the new BMW iX5 Hydrogen in 2028, hydrogen fuel
cell technology – lays the foundations for successfully meeting the
varying demands and needs of customers worldwide both now and in the future.

Flexible manufacturing structures and high
levels of integration expertise enable this array of drive
technologies to be implemented efficiently in the new BMW X5 range in
terms of development, purchasing and production. This means the BMW
model line-up will include two types of fully electric drivetrain
(battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell) from 2028, underlining the
rigorous application of the brand’s technology-open approach.

The new BMW iX5 Hydrogen

Following successful testing of the pilot fleet worldwide, the new
BMW iX5 Hydrogen* will enter the market as the brand’s first-ever
series-produced hydrogen-powered model. “The new BMW iX5 Hydrogen
will be a true BMW – pioneering in its class and delivering the BMW
typical driving pleasure,” says Michael Rath, Vice President
Hydrogen Vehicles BMW Group. 

The drive technology is based on the third-generation
fuel cell system that the BMW Group is developing in
collaboration with the Toyota Motor Corporation.This technological
advance paves the way for a system with a more compact design that is
also more powerful and efficient, thereby increasing range and output
at the same time as reducing energy consumption. The company’s
competence centres in Munich and in the BMW Group Plant Steyr are
already building first prototypes. Further drive system components
will come from the BMW Group plant in Landshut.

Benefits of hydrogen-powered technology

Hydrogen is recognized as a promising future energy carrier for
global decarbonization. It acts as an effective storage medium for
renewable energy sources, helping to balance supply and demand and
enabling a more stable and reliable integration of renewables into the
energy grid. Hydrogen is the missing piece for completing the electric
mobility puzzle where battery electric drive systems are not an
optimal solution.

HyMoS initiative: alliance for strengthening the hydrogen infrastructure

As well as developing the new BMW iX5 Hydrogen, BMW is also actively
involved in efforts to expand the hydrogen refueling network. The
HyMoS (Hydrogen Mobility at Scale) initiative was established to
support hydrogen ecosystems for mobility in cooperation with industry
and institutional partners. The aim of this initiative is to increase
the economic viability of hydrogen mobility ecosystems by pooling the
demand for all types of vehicles, including trucks, buses and
passenger cars. This will help to reach an optimal distribution and
usage of hydrogen stations. The initiative supports existing hydrogen
ecosystem projects in achieving their full potential by sharing
experiences across projects and providing ground support of its
industry partners. A pilot phase started with the support of existing
ecosystems in Germany and France to gather experiences for deployment
to further metropolitan areas and a potential later expansion to other countries.