BMW debuts iX5 hydrogen fuel cell SUV
BMW announced that it is sticking with hydrogen and presented its hydrogen SUV recently.
BMW, the German automaker, recently presented its BMW iX5 Hydrogen SUV at the International Mobility Show (IAA), 2021, in Munich, Germany.
The BMW iX5 is similar to BMW iX3 from the outside besides some blue bits and exhaust tip replacements, but both vehicles have a few differences from the inside.
Although BMW iX5 still uses the same electric drive unit for propulsion, the engine facilitates 374 horsepower, which is more than BMW iX3. Other than power, the electric motor with a battery that is mounted in BMW iX5 also uses a hydrogen fuel cell as a power source.
The vehicle also has two 700-bar tanks for hydrogen storage, which are made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), and they are mounted in a place where normally a gas tank would go.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can benefit from a less refill time, usually a few minutes, compared to the hours required to recharge an electric car. However, it is challenging to find a hydrogen refuelling station as they are scarce currently.
Fuel cell vehicles have still their ups and downs, such as less charging time while fewer charging stations, and although the market demand for hydrogen vehicles are still in favour of long-haul trucks and other commercial vehicles due to their long refilling times. BMW still thinks hydrogen-based cars are a viable solution, and the market may grow in the future.
