BMW begins production of limited-edition hydrogen-powered model

MANILA: The BMW Group has started the production of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen. The small-series hydrogen-powered vehicle is being manufactured at the pilot plant at the BMW Group's Munich Research and Innovation Center in Germany. The BMW iX5 Hydrogen, the first Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) using hydrogen fuel cell technology, will be utilized as a technology demonstrator for local carbon-free mobility in selected regions in 2023 after the completion of an extensive testing program under strenuous conditions throughout the development phase.

“Hydrogen is a versatile energy source that has a key role to play as we progress towards climate neutrality. We are certain that hydrogen is set to gain significantly in importance for individual mobility and therefore consider a mixture of battery and fuel cell electric drive systems to be a sensible approach in the long term. Fuel cells don’t require any critical raw materials such as cobalt, lithium or nickel either, so by investing in this type of drive system we are also strengthening the geopolitical resilience of the BMW Group. Our BMW iX5 Hydrogen test fleet will allow us to gain new and valuable insights, enabling us to present customers with an attractive product range once the hydrogen economy becomes a widespread reality,” BMW AG Board of Management for Development Member Frank Weber stated.

Every new model from a BMW Group brand is initially produced at the Munich Research and Innovation Center, the spot where development and production combine. There are about 900 employees in the body shop, assembly, model engineering, concept vehicle building, and additive manufacturing. They are entrusted with making sure that the product and the manufacturing process are ready for series production while working on up to six vehicle projects at once. To incorporate the most advanced motor and energy storage technologies into the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, experts in hydrogen technology, vehicle development, and initial assembly of new models have been closely collaborating.

“Production of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen and the BMW-developed fuel cell systems demonstrates our supreme flexibility and unrivalled know-how in the field of small-scale manufacture. It shows we already boast the necessary expertise for integrating hydrogen technology into the BMW iFactory production system as an additional type of drive,” BMW AG Board of Management for Production Member Milan Nedeljkovic said.

The hydrogen model, which is built on the BMW X5 platform, receives its base vehicles from BMW Group Plant Spartanburg in the United States. The two hydrogen tanks can fit in the center tunnel and beneath the rear seat unit, thanks to the installation of a new floor assembly in the body shop of the pilot plant. Along with standard production components, the model-specific 12V and 400V electrical systems, high-performance battery, electric motor, and fuel cell are all incorporated during the assembly stage. The electric motor, which is part of the current, fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology used in battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles from BMW, is located at the rear axle along with the high-performance battery. The fuel cell systems found under the hood of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen have been produced at BMW's in-house hydrogen competence center in Garching, which is located north of Munich, since August.

The Additive Manufacturing Campus, the BMW Group's 3D printing specialty center, which is also a part of the pilot plant, produces a number of parts specifically for the hydrogen-powered SAV. The BMW iX5 Hydrogen undergoes all the standard production steps, beginning in the body shop and proceeding through the paint shop, assembly, and final inspection of each individual vehicle. The BMW Group's test center in Aschheim then performs an extensive operational inspection on each unit.

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen combines exceptional daily usability and long-distance capabilities with all the advantages of a locally emission-free drive system. As a result, its hydrogen fuel cell technology is a valuable addition to the battery electric drive system. This is especially true for customers for whom quick refueling stops and long ranges are necessary, as well as for geographical areas that still do not have a suitable infrastructure for charging.

Photos from BMW Group

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