While battery-electric vehicles are the dominant occupant of the electric vehicle space, and BMW is certainly no stranger to them, they aren’t perfectly optimal for drivers in certain climates and conditions. That’s where hydrogen electric vehicles come into play, and the BMW iX5 Hydrogen is a demonstration of that. One of an incredibly diverse range of five types of powertrains available for the BMW X5, the iX5 Hydrogen is adopting new hydrogen tank technology that makes it a thoroughly improved vehicle overall.
The new tank system increases the iX5 Hydrogen’s range to as much as 385 miles, and the new BMW Hydrogen Flat Storage system makes the tank system efficient with its use of space, and compatible with the Gen6 high voltage battery. That optimizes the amount of room available in the cabin, and also means that hydrogen-powered vehicles can be produced on the same line as vehicles with other powertrains. The location of the hydrogen tanks in the vehicle’s structure increases safety, as well.
The system, comprised of seven parallel carbon fiber-reinforced composite hydrogen tanks, stores seven kilograms of hydrogen, and can be refueled from empty in just five minutes. With the new hydrogen tank technology, the compatibility between the tank system and other powertrains available for the X5 also means that BMW’s Heart of Joy computer system is part of the iX5 Hydrogen.
<- Gallery ->
As a result, the BMW iX5 Hydrogen is another way to experience the true BMW X5 without compromise, rather than being an experimental vehicle based on an existing platform. Starting in 2028, BMW is planning a widespread introduction of the iX5 Hydrogen to its production network, as part of a larger strategy in which hydrogen electric vehicles are a key component.
Image Source: BMW
