BMW is starting small-scale production of its BMW iX5 Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in Munich. The technology demonstrator is to be used in selected regions from 2023.
BMW iX5 Hydrogen production
BMW
BMW has begun production of its iX5 Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. “Hydrogen is a versatile energy source that has a key role to play as we progress towards climate neutrality,” says Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development. Production of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen will take place at the BMW Group's pilot plant at FIZ in Munich (Germany). The BMW iX5 Hydrogen is based on the BMW X5. In the pilot plant's body shop, the base vehicles delivered from Spartanburg receive a new floor assembly that allows the two 700-bar hydrogen tanks to be accommodated in the center tunnel and under the rear seat bench.
In addition to standard components, the model-specific 12 V and 400 V electrical system, the battery and the electric motor and fuel cell are integrated in the assembly. The electric motor and battery are placed in the area of the rear axle and come from the fifth generation of BMW e-DriveTechnology. The total system output of the FCEV is expected to be 275 kW. The fuel cell system will be manufactured at BMW's hydrogen competence center in Garching, north of Munich, starting in August 2022. “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,” remarks Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production.