BMW partners with Toyota for hydrogen pioneering.
While battery electric vehicles have dominated the automotive world’s transition to electrification, which is happening at a breakneck pace, there are some situations in which battery-electric powertrains are not the best solution. A less popular solution that has been championed by a few pioneers, however, is hydrogen fuel. Using hydrogen to power an electric vehicle is something that manufacturers like BMW and Toyota have been exploring, and now, they will do it together.
BMW has announced that it plans to launch its first-ever series-production hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle in 2028. Towards this effort, the German manufacturer will join forces with Toyota to collaborate in developing the next generation of hydrogen fuel cell vehicle technology. Both companies will use what they have already learned in hydrogen and electric vehicle engineering in order to create a new, better generation.
Together, BMW and Toyota will jointly develop a powertrain system for series production vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells, launching the first model in 2028. Both passenger and commercial vehicles will rely on the powertrain system, with the BMW and Toyota hydrogen FCEV models retaining the unique characteristics of vehicles from both brands, providing a range of options for customers to choose from.
Building on the success of the iX5 Hydrogen, BMW plans to create a hydrogen variant of an existing model. The new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle will sit alongside combustion and battery electric powertrains, offering a new option for situations where battery power isn’t the best option.
