You may recall the BMW iX5 Hydrogen concept car that was unveiled at the International Motor Show Germany last year.
Well, BMW has just announced that it’s started production of the small-series hydrogen-powered vehicle.
The BMW iX5 Hydrogen is the first ever Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) featuring hydrogen fuel cell technology.
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But before it could start being manufactured, it had to go through an intensive testing program under demanding conditions.
It flew through that stringent testing with flying colors and is now being built in BMW‘s pilot plant at its Research and Innovation Centre in Munich.
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It’s BMW’s Spartanburg plant in the USA which is supplying the base vehicles for the hydrogen model, though.
The iX5 Hydrogen has been developed on the platform of the BMW X5.
However, it has been fitted with a new floor assembly, making it possible to accommodate the two hydrogen tanks in the center tunnel and under the rear seat unit.
The model-specific 12V and 400V electrical systems, high-perfmance battery, electric motor, and fuel cell are all integrated during the assembly stage.
Positioned in the rear axle area together with the high-performance battery, the electric motor is a product of the current, fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology.
This is the technology also employed in battery electric and plug-in hybrid models from BMW.
BMW has been manufacturing the fuel cell systems, which are located under the bonnet of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, since August this year.
Is hydrogen the future for BMW?
BMW openly admits that its iX5 Hydrogen test fleet will “allow us to gain new and valuable insights” and will enable them to “present customers with an attractive product range once the hydrogen economy becomes a reality.
In other words, don’t expect to swing by your local BMW dealer to pick up a hydrogen-powered vehicle anytime soon.
