Munich. As one of the pioneers in the field of electromobility, the BMW Group is preparing for the myriad demands of future mobility, as demonstrated by the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT fuel cell development vehicle that awaits visitors to the IAA Cars 2019 show. The BMW Group assumes that in the future there will be various other types of drive systems, as there is no single solution that covers the entire range of mobility needs of customers worldwide. Hydrogen vehicles are an important alternative and complement to electric drive systems. This wide variety of electric drive technologies – with plug-in hybrids being another example – underlines the BMW Group’s commitment to achieving zero-emission mobility as part of a well-thought-out strategy.
In 2022, the BMW Group plans to introduce the next generation of hydrogen fuel cell electric drive systems in a small vehicle based on the current BMW X5. The BMW i Hydrogen NEXT provides a first glimpse of what this model has in store. The BMW Group would start offering fuel cell vehicles to customers in 2025 at the earliest, but the timing is highly dependent on market demand and the overall situation.
The design of the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT
The BMW i Hydrogen NEXT shows that this technology can be effectively integrated into a dynamic vehicle like the BMW X5. Slight changes to the vehicle’s design make it deliberately recognizable as a BMW i model. BMW i embraces innovation and acts as an incubator for all new technologies at the BMW Group.
At the front end, the changes are best seen in the distinctive BMW i Blue pattern on the bonnet. This pattern reappears in three-dimensional form in the air intakes. The shape and color of the pattern create a dynamic flow across the front end and sides of the Mineral White body. The details on the light alloys provide further confirmation of the model’s BMW i genes.
The innovative character of the development car also shines through at the rear, thanks to the BMW i Blue diffusers. Their muted design with no exhaust tailpipes clearly shows that the car’s drivetrain produces no localized emissions.
Great potential and with significant customer benefits
Hydrogen electric electric vehicles (FCEVs) can offer unlimited emission-free mobility with similar operating characteristics to conventional vehicles: fuel time under four minutes, long range, no compromise in terms of comfort, suitability for towing and very little dependence on climatic conditions, which means that customers benefit greatly operational area both summer and winter. Making all of this possible requires a hydrogen infrastructure that’s up to the job. In most countries, such supply infrastructure is still in the early stages of development.
Development cooperation with Toyota
The BMW Group has already demonstrated that the technology is suitable for everyday use. BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation joined forces in 2013 to jointly develop a drive system that uses hydrogen generator technology. Since the summer of 2015, the BMW Group’s research wing has been testing a small fleet of prototype BMW 5 Series GT hydrogen fuel cell vehicles powered by a jointly developed drive system with a Toyota fuel cell stack.
In 2016, the two companies signed a product development cooperation agreement. Since then, they have been working together on future generations of fuel cell drive systems and scalable, modular components for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The partnership with Toyota Motor Corporation shows how the BMW Group has stepped up its efforts to develop alternative drive technologies for completely emission-free driving. The two partners strongly believe in fuel cell technology and will continue to work together to develop it further as the infrastructure and mass market grow around the world.
In January 2017, the BMW Group and Toyota teamed up with eleven leading energy, transport and industrial companies to launch a global initiative called the Hydrogen Council. Its aim is to forge a unified vision and push forward with the long-term ambition of a hydrogen-powered energy revolution. As of June 2019, Vetnisráð has grown to 60 member companies.