Hydrogen fuel-cell power could be ‘no cost option’ for BMW EV buyers

Hydrogen programme boss reveals firm’s vision of a fuel-cell powered future as iX5 Hydrogen ‘pilot fleet’ arrives in UK

Hydrogen fuel-cell powertrains that can be refuelled in minutes could be a no-cost alternative to batteries across a range of BMW electric car models by 2035, as new compact hydrogen fuel tank technology allows the maker to cheaply package hydrogen storage in vehicle platforms designed for both energy sources.

While fuel cell electric cars (FCEVs) such as the Toyota Mirai have been around in limited production for several years, extremely scarce refuelling options and high prices have made them an expensive and impractical proposition for all but a handful of users. According to BMW’s hydrogen programme chief Juergen Guldner though, in volume production FCEVs are potentially cheaper and more sustainable to build than BEVs, as they use 90 per cent less battery material, yet will feature new design solutions allowing BEV and FCEV versions of the same model to share a single ‘skateboard’ style platform, as well as multiple drivetrain components. 

We’re told that while BMW’s latest FCEV prototype, the iX5 Hydrogen, has two large gas tanks located centrally in the vehicle, suppliers have worked hard to produce much smaller tanks which can be sited in multiples within the chassis compartments otherwise used for battery storage in future EV models, while retaining the same strength and overall capacity of 6kgs of hydrogen gas. Innovations such as this, and the fact that it’s much cheaper and easier to recycle FCEVs at end of life compared to BEVs, will make it possible for BMW to contemplate offering fuel cell power as an alternative to batteries at comparable prices, Guldner suggests.

 

Hydrogen fuel-cell power could be ‘no cost option’ for BMW EV buyers | Auto Express

Hydrogen fuel-cell power could be ‘no cost option’ for BMW EV buyers | Auto Express