26/02/2024
BMW has joined the ranks of automakers investing in hydrogen fuel cell technology, alongside Toyota, Kia, and Hyundai. Despite focusing on battery technology for electric vehicles, BMW has been exploring hydrogen fuel cell powertrain technologies as part of its Power of Choice strategy.
The company recently provided virtual insights into the powertrain system for the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT, emphasizing its commitment to emission-free mobility and catering to different market and customer requirements.
BMW has been collaborating with Toyota Motor Corporation on fuel cell technology since 2013. The partnership aims to develop scalable and modular fuel cell powertrain systems for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
The BMW i Hydrogen NEXT will feature a fuel cell stack generating 170hp from the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, emitting only water v***r. The vehicle will also integrate a fifth-generation eDrive unit for added dynamics, with a total output of 374hp.
Equipped with a pair of 700 bar tanks capable of holding 6kg of hydrogen, the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT can be refueled in three to four minutes. The company plans to pilot this hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrain in a small series based on the current X5, with a customer offering expected in the second half of the decade.
In addition to its collaboration with Toyota, BMW is involved in research to develop compact hydrogen storage tanks for future vehicle architectures. The project, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, aims to lower the cost of manufacturing hydrogen tanks for fuel cell vehicles and make them competitive with battery electric vehicles.
source carsifu.my
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