Frankfurt show: Slow burn for BMW hydrogen cars

BMW has admitted it is still at least six years away from launching a hydrogen-powered model, while at the same time announcing that it is accelerating its electric vehicle roll-out by two years.

However, the company insists it sees a future for hydrogen in a mix of alternative energy vehicles to suit different needs in different markets.

BMW, which is working jointly with Toyota on hydrogen fuel cell powertrains, showed off a converted X5 large SUV test vehicle with a hydrogen powertrain – dubbed BMW i Hydrogen Next – at the Frankfurt motor show this week alongside of raft of electrified models.

But BMW AG chairman of the board Oliver Zipse indicated viable hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are still some way off when he announced that BMW would launch a new fleet of fuel cell test vehicles in 2022 but would not be ready to put such vehicles on sale until 2025 “at the earliest”.

In the same breath, he announced that BMW was accelerating the launch tempo of its electric car rollout by launching 25 electrified models – half of them full electric – by 2023, which is two years earlier than the previously announced date of 2025, adding: “The timing very much depends on market requirements and overall conditions.”

Mr Zipse said BMW believe a variety of solutions – not one single technology – would provide the answer to reducing emissions in a variety of markets around the world.

“We are therefore focusing on the question: Which drivetrains, technologies and services will our customers want in the future?” he said. “And how can we achieve the best outcome for climate protection? One thing is clear: We are committed to the Paris climate agreement.”

The i Hydrogen Next looks much like a regular X5 with only small styling changes to indicate it has something different under the bonnet.

No power or performance figures were revealed, but BMW says the vehicle provided a glimpse of the test vehicles that would eventually be put on the roads with powertrains jointly developed by BMW and Toyota.

BMW is using Toyota fuel stacks in a fleet of 5 Series GT hydrogen development mules after signing a technology cooperation agreement in 2013.

BMW and Toyota say they both have faith that hydrogen vehicles will reach production, thanks to the advantages of refuelling times of under four minutes, long range, no compromises in terms of comfort, suitability for towing and little dependence on climatic conditions.

But they said these advantages will come to nothing without investment in hydrogen infrastructure.

“In most countries, such supply infrastructures are still in the early stages of development,” BMW said it is media release on the i Hydrogen Next.

Along with Honda and Hyundai, BMW and Toyota are among the few motor companies actively pursuing hydrogen alongside EVs. Most others have taken the electric route.