BMW
The BMW Group has announced the start of small-scale production of the hydrogen version of the iX5 SUV. Full-scale demonstrations and testing of the hydrogen-fueled car will begin next year, which will help collect a comprehensive data set before the start of mass production of these cars in 2025.
Small-scale production of Ix5 Hydrogen is carried out in the pilot plant at the Munich Research and Innovation Center (FIZ). This company's first Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) with hydrogen fuel cell technology has already completed a test program under challenging conditions during the development phase and will continue to be used as a technology demonstrator for locally carbon-free mobility in regions selected from spring 2023
Fuel cells do not require critical raw materials such as cobalt, lithium or nickel, so by investing in this type of drive system we are also strengthening the geopolitical resilience of the BMW Group. Our BMW Ix5 Hydrogen test fleet will allow us to gain valuable new insights that will enable us to present an attractive product range to customers when the hydrogen economy becomes a reality, said Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for the Group Development.
Hydrogen as a fuel allows you to travel long distances and spend minutes refueling instead of hours, as in the case of electric cars. Furthermore, the charging infrastructure is still not sufficiently developed. While remaining environmentally neutral, hydrogen fuel offers a number of advantages that will secure its impressive niche in the world of the carbon-free economy.
Bodies for the assembly of the Ix5 Hydrogen are supplied by the BMW Group's US plant in Spartanburg. In the body of the experimental plant, a new floor is installed in the car, which allows the placement of two hydrogen tanks in the central tunnel and under the rear seat unit. The 12V and 400V electrical systems, high-performance battery, electric motor and fuel cell are integrated in the assembly phase alongside standard serial parts.
The electric motor is located near the rear axle along with the battery - this is the fifth generation BMW eDrive solution, which is already used in electric and hybrid models from BMW. The fuel cell systems have been produced since August this year at BMW's own "hydrogen" center in Garching, north of Munich. Fuel elements are located under the hood.
Many components of the Ix5 Hydrogen are produced exclusively for hydrogen powered cars. Some are manufactured using 3D printing at the BMW Additive Manufacturing Campus. After assembly, the machines go through the usual painting and acceptance phase, and then start operating.
After the start of small-scale production of the iX5 Hydrogen, the BMW Group, together with Toyota, plans to establish full-scale production of fuel cell vehicles. It will happen in approximately 2025, but that's another story.
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