BMW iX5 Hydrogen Enters Real-World Testing Ahead Of Production, Targets 750km Range, 5-Minute Refuelling Time

German automaker, BMW, is pushing its hydrogen-powered SUV closer to series production as current BMW iX5 Hydrogen prototype vehicles enter an extensive real-world testing programme.

BMW said the current iX5 Hydrogen prototypes are being tested under demanding environmental and operating conditions to assess the functionality of all components within the integrated vehicle system.

At the heart of the SUV is BMW’s third-generation fuel-cell system, developed in collaboration with Toyota. It works alongside a high-voltage battery, electric motor, hydrogen tanks and central control systems to deliver fully electric propulsion without tailpipe emissions.

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BMW said the testing is also being used to optimise how these systems interact under high loads. The company is targeting BMW-like driving performance, including acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than five seconds.

“Our ambition for the BMW iX5 Hydrogen is clear: a true BMW – with Sheer Driving Pleasure. A perfectly coordinated overall system is crucial for this,” said Josef Hochreiter, head of Hydrogen Vehicles at BMW Group.

While road testing continues, BMW has started another prototype assembly phase for the third-generation fuel-cell system at its Hydrogen Competence Centre in Munich. BMW Group Plant Steyr in Austria is simultaneously preparing for series production of the fuel-cell systems.

For the production model, BMW is targeting a driving range of up to 750 kilometres (466 miles) and a hydrogen refuelling time of less than five minutes.

Following successful global testing of the pilot fleet, the iX5 Hydrogen will become BMW’s first hydrogen-powered series-production model. The hydrogen SUV will join battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, petrol and diesel versions of the X5, giving customers multiple powertrain choices.

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