BMW is pressing ahead with development of the iX5 Hydrogen as the model is currently undergoing cold weather testing in northern Sweden. The testing and validation process is designed to ensure the crossover’s fuel cell system, hydrogen tanks, battery pack, and vehicle control unit can deliver “unrestricted performance” even in extreme cold.
Despite temperatures as low as -4° F (-20°
C), BMW said the “hydrogen fuel cell drive system displays the same everyday
usability as a conventional internal combustion engine.” Furthermore, unlike
electric vehicles, the crossover’s range isn’t affected by cold weather and
replenishing the hydrogen fuel tanks only takes three to four minutes.
These are key advantages and BMW’s Vice
President of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology and Vehicle Projects, Jürgen
Guldner, said “The hydrogen fuel cell drive system combines the best of both
drive worlds, regardless of the time of year and outside temperatures: it
offers the locally emission-free mobility of an electric vehicle and the
unrestricted everyday usability – including short refuelling stops – familiar
from models with an internal combustion engine.”
Speaking of the powertrain, it features
two carbon fiber reinforced hydrogen storage tanks that feed a fuel cell which
converts hydrogen into electricity. This is used to power a rear-mounted
electric motor that develops 369 hp. The only emission
created by the vehicle is water vapor and waste heat is harnessed to warm the
cabin.
The iX5 Hydrogen will go into small series
production later this year, but BMW knows its biggest limitation is lackluster
hydrogen refueling infrastructure. As BMW’s Frank Weber explained, “For us to
be able to offer our customers a fuel cell drive system as an attractive
sustainable mobility solution, a sufficiently extensive hydrogen infrastructure
also needs to be in place.”
