BMW’s production fuel cell electric car to debut in 2028; fuel cell powertrain to be jointly developed with Toyota
BMW and Toyota have jointly announced that the two automakers are working together to bring hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to mass market by 2028.
“This is a milestone in automotive history, the first series-production fuel cell vehicle offered by a global premium manufacturer. Powered by hydrogen and driven by our spirit of collaboration, it will underline how technological advances are shaping the mobility of the future,” said BMW Chairman Oliver Zipse.
The model most likely to emerge as a mass-produced fuel cell vehicle will be the iX5 Hydrogenhas been undergoing testing in various forms since 2019. The iX5 Hydrogen features a hydrogen fuel cell array that produces up to 125 kW (170 hp) from hydrogen while emitting purified water, and is supplemented by a battery-powered electric motor system that produces 231 hp, giving a total output of 401 hp from both systems.
“We are delighted that the collaboration between BMW and Toyota has entered a new phase. In our long history of collaboration, we have confirmed that BMW and Toyota share a passion for automobiles and a belief in ‘technological openness’ and a ‘multi-pronged’ approach to carbon neutrality,” said Toyota President Koji Sato.
The fuel cell powertrain will be jointly developed by BMW and Toyota and will be used in individual models from both BMW and Toyota. Future fuel cell electric vehicles from BMW and Toyota will likely maintain their separate brand identities, and the collaboration on development and procurement is aimed at reducing the cost of fuel cell technology, BMW said in a statement.
“We will strengthen cooperation in efforts such as joint development of next-generation fuel cell systems and expansion of infrastructure, towards the realization of a hydrogen society. We will accelerate efforts together with BMW and partners in various industries to realize a future where hydrogen energy supports society,” said Toyota President Sato.
Toyota has long been a champion of fuel cell technology as part of its multi-path strategy towards carbon neutrality and its own fuel cell vehicles, Miraihas entered second generation in 2019. Likewise, BMW also sees hydrogen fuel cell technology as complementary to BEV technology.
In addition to developing hydrogen fuel cell technology, Toyota has been researching hydrogen internal combustion engineand has raced a hydrogen-powered Corolla with Toyota’s chairman of the board Akio Toyoda at the wheel.
PHOTO GALLERY: BMW iX5 Hydrogen
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