BMW to debut hydrogen fuel cell technology in iX5
BMW will become the first automaker to offer a single model with five different powertrain technologies.
To this end, it has chosen the next generation of the popular X5 SUV, which will be available with gasoline, plug-in hybrid, and diesel engines, as well as electric motors powered by batteries and hydrogen fuel cells.
To promote the latter option, the company created the HyMoS (Hydrogen Mobility at Scale) initiative, designed to promote the development of hydrogen ecosystems and refueling stations in metropolitan areas through the implementation of a pilot program in Germany and France.
“By launching the new BMW X5 with five powertrain variants, we are once again demonstrating our leadership position as a technology pioneer,” said Joachim Post, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, when announcing the launch during an event in New York.
“Hydrogen has an essential role to play in global decarbonization, so we are committed to continuing to drive this technology forward in the future,” emphasized Post, who is responsible for development within the company.
The executive explained that openness to new technologies has always been a key factor in the BMW Group's success and that this expansion of the range of powertrain systems lays the foundation for successfully meeting the diverse demands and needs of customers around the world, both now and in the future.
New flexible manufacturing structures and high levels of integration expertise enable this powertrain technology package to be efficiently implemented across the new BMW X5 range in terms of development, purchasing, and production.
This means that the BMW model range will include two types of fully electric powertrains (battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell, which uses electricity generated by fuel cells to power electric motors) from 2028.
New BMW iX5 Hydrogen
Following successful pilot fleet testing around the world, the new BMW iX5 Hydrogen will enter the market as the brand's first series-produced hydrogen-powered model.
“The new BMW iX5 Hydrogen will be a true BMW, a pioneer in its class and with the characteristic BMW driving pleasure,” says Michael Rath, Vice President of Hydrogen Vehicles at the BMW Group.
The drive technology is based on the third-generation fuel cell system that the BMW Group is developing in collaboration with Toyota Motor Corporation.
This technological advance paves the way for a more compact system design that is also more powerful and efficient, thereby increasing range and performance while reducing energy consumption.
Prototypes Ready
For series production of fuel cell systems starting in 2028, the BMW Group chose the Steyr plant in Austria, where the first prototypes are already being built.
“The choice of Steyr as the production site clearly demonstrates our commitment to European innovation. The BMW competence centers in Munich and Steyr will play a key role in the development of state-of-the-art fuel cell systems,” said Post.
BMW's third-generation fuel cell system is the result of collaboration with Toyota, which supplied the first generation to be installed in a BMW 535iA in 2014.
The second generation debuted in the current pilot fleet of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen. On this occasion, BMW developed the complete fuel cell system, while the individual cells came from Toyota.
For the new generation, the BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation are jointly developing the powertrain system for passenger vehicles, with core fuel cell technology creating synergies for both commercial and passenger vehicle applications.
This close collaboration allows both companies to leverage synergies in development and supply chain, while creating brand-specific models.
The third generation brings significant improvements:
Compact design: The space occupied by the fuel cell system has been reduced by approximately 25%. A considerable increase in power density has enabled a much more compact construction compared to the previous generation.
High integration: The third generation can be seamlessly integrated into future vehicle architectures. This paves the way for an open technology approach that will enable multiple powertrain variants to be offered to customers in the future.
Optimized components and greater efficiency: The system will be much more efficient than its predecessor. This is achieved by improving individual components based on propulsion technology developed jointly with Toyota and through improved operating strategies.
These advances result in greater range and power, along with lower energy consumption, representing a significant improvement over the second generation.
The Munich Technology Experience
The BMW Group produces prototypes of highly efficient fuel cell systems at its hydrogen competence center in Munich. In the fuel cell, an electrochemical reaction takes place in which hydrogen from the tanks reacts with oxygen from the air.
This reaction generates electricity that powers the electric motor and supplies energy to the vehicle.
The fuel cell system includes not only the cells themselves, but also all the components and systems necessary for their efficient operation. This includes the cooling system and the hydrogen and air subsystems.
The compact structure ensures that the entire powertrain delivers the levels of performance and safety for which BMW is renowned.
Currently, prototype production is focused on the development and validation of assembly and testing processes, with a particular focus on industrialization, quality assurance, and long-term scalability.
At the same time, the prototypes are being used to develop the operating strategy and to validate both the system and the vehicle. These steps are crucial in preparing fuel cell technology for series production.
Se espera que la producción de los sistemas de celdas de combustible comience en 2028 en la Planta BMW de Steyr, que cuenta con décadas de experiencia en desarrollo y producción de todos los tipos de trenes motrices para toda la gama de modelos de BMW Group.
Se están construyendo nuevas instalaciones de prueba y producción, además de modificar los edificios para incorporar la nueva tecnología de propulsión y perfeccionarla continuamente.
BMW Group Planta Landshut será responsable de fabricar componentes clave para los vehículos con celda de combustible.
La construcción de nuevos equipos y hardware para la producción en serie del Energy Master, específico para hidrógeno, comenzará a finales de mayo de 2026.
The BMW Energy Master controls the power supply in the vehicle in a range from 400 to 800V and also acts as an interface for high-voltage battery data.
This control module is supplemented by several components specific to the fuel cell application.
Production of the first prototypes of the hydrogen-specific Energy Master will begin in mid-2026, just a few miles away at the BMW Group Dingolfing plant, where the Energy Master prototypes for the Neue Klasse models were also manufactured.
As with the BMW iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet, the Landshut plant will once again manufacture the housing and protective plate for the next generation of models.
