A few years ago, most automakers were all-in on electric vehicles, and BMW was no exception. However, it turns out the industry is evolving differently, and that’s why some brands are looking for new solutions. For its part, the Bavarian manufacturer has announced that it will offer a hydrogen-powered vehicle by 2028.
Even though the popularity of electric vehicles seems to have plateaued, BMW remains one of the biggest players in the segment. However, the Bavarian automaker is well aware of the situation, which is why it aims to offer something new in the form of a hydrogen vehicle.
A Second Chance
This isn’t the first time BMW has turned to hydrogen. A few years ago, the automaker developed a remarkably efficient powertrain. However, the lack of buyer interest and insufficient infrastructure forced the brand to shift gears.
As I mentioned, the industry has evolved significantly, and BMW is now working hand in hand with Toyota. In case you didn’t know, the new Supra shares many components with the BMW Z4. In short, this means the new hydrogen model will be built in collaboration with Toyota, which already has years of experience in this field with the Mirai.
The X5
Although it hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, the X5 is expected to be the model chosen to receive this new hydrogen powertrain. The next generation of the X5 is set to launch in 2027 with a regular version, a plug-in hybrid version, and a fully electric version. It therefore makes perfect sense for BMW to add a fuel cell version to the model’s lineup at the same time.
How Does It Work?
There are several ways to use hydrogen to power a vehicle. In this case, we are talking about fuel cell technology. Essentially, this means hydrogen is converted into electricity through a chemical reaction. This electricity is then transmitted to an electric motor. The advantage over a regular electric car is that it doesn’t require a heavy battery to store electricity since it’s produced on demand. It also takes just a few minutes to refuel, as is the case with gasoline vehicles. In short, BMW sees great potential in this, and it’s far from the only automaker considering this technology.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
