BMW iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet launched - 401hp, 504km WLTP range

The BMW Group is ready to ship out the first batch of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen as part of its pilot fleet for its next critical phase - media reviews.

The fleet of hydrogen-powered BMW iX5 consisting of 100 vehicles will be sent around the globe for trials and demonstrations as part of its 'active' development while offering real-world driving experiences and more importantly, vital feedback for BMW.

Why hydrogen? According to Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, "Hydrogen is a versatile energy source that has a key role to play in the energy transition process and therefore in climate protection. After all, it is one of the most efficient ways of storing and transporting renewable energies."

"We should use this potential to also accelerate the transformation of the mobility sector. Hydrogen is the missing piece in the jigsaw when it comes to emission-free mobility. One technology on its own will not be enough to enable climate-neutral mobility worldwide," added Zipse.

The hydrogen fuel cell system in itself has the ability to offer a high-continuous output of 125kW or 170hp using nothing but the hydrogen from the tanks and oxygen from the air. Special hydrogen components were developed by BMW to gain the most from this particular powertrain as well as sourcing individual fuel cells from one of its great buddies in the hydrogen industry, Toyota.

Another great aspect of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen is the hydrogen fuel tanks. A couple of 700-bar tanks made with carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) can hold up to 6kg of hydrogen and can be fully filled in just 3-4 minutes. Each fill-up offers a super-clean WLTP driving range of up to 504km. Again, using nothing but hydrogen and oxygen. Suck on that, BEVs.

BMW also stated that when this hydrogen powertrain is combined with its fifth-gen BMW eDrive tech fitted at the rear axle (electric motor, transmission & power electronics), the BMW iX5 Hydrogen is able to punch out a total of 401hp. 0-100km/h can be completed in under six seconds paired with a top speed of over 180km/h.

Not bad, hydrogen. Not bad at all.