JUST this February the BMW iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet underwent rigorous hot-weather testing in the United Arab Emirates, where temperatures soared to 45°C. At the end of September, BMW confirmed the tests were completed with the iX5 passing all the tests which evaluated the performance of the car’s fuel cell drive system under extreme conditions, including sand, dust, varying gradients, and humidity fluctuations.
The vehicle’s highly efficient fuel cell system, two hydrogen tanks, electric motor, power battery, and central vehicle control unit all demonstrated exceptional performance and readiness. The BMW development team from Munich assessed the functionality of electric systems and the cooling capacity needed to maintain the vehicle’s full performance. Impressively, the vehicles maintained the renowned BMW driving dynamics throughout the testing.
BMW’s pilot fleet of iX5 Hydrogen vehicles is currently active in Europe, Japan, Korea, China, the USA, and the Middle East. The primary goal is to showcase the practicality of hydrogen-powered vehicles in everyday use and gather vital insights for potential series production. The BMW Group is also working regionally to support the development of a refueling infrastructure compatible with 700-bar refueling technology across various vehicle categories, from passenger cars to heavy-duty commercial vehicles. This approach seeks to foster a robust network of hydrogen technology suppliers while reducing costs.
The BMW iX5 Hydrogen offers long-distance capability and quick refueling, all while providing local emission-free driving. Pending necessary infrastructure development, hydrogen fuel cell technology holds the potential to become a key component of the BMW Group’s future drive system portfolio.
As part of its ongoing transformation, the BMW Group embraces a “technology-open” approach to drive systems, adapting to diverse customer needs, infrastructure standards, and regional regulations. This flexibility allows the company to respond swiftly to market demands and offer appealing solutions to a wide range of customers.
Under the hood, the BMW iX5 Hydrogen features a fuel cell system with an output of 125 kW/170 hp and a highly integrated drive unit utilizing fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology. This integrated setup combines the electric motor, transmission, and power electronics within a compact housing. The total output of the drive system reaches 295 kW/401 hp. Hydrogen fuel for the fuel cell is stored in a pair of 700-bar tanks constructed from carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP), with a combined capacity of approximately six kilograms of hydrogen. This storage configuration provides the BMW iX5 Hydrogen with an impressive range of 504 km (313 miles) in the WLTP cycle.
