- BMW’s third-generation hydrogen powertrain will be ready for prime time in just over two years.
- The fifth-generation X5 will also be sold in petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric guises.
- Like other BMW models, the next X5 will adopt the company’s Neue Klasse design language.
For years, BMW has been working alongside Toyota on hydrogen powertrains, despite many other legacy automakers backing away from hydrogen development to focus on hybrid and battery-electric vehicles. While the hydrogen market remains small, the German brand continues to move ahead with its project, confirming that its first fuel cell car will hit the market in 2028.
BMW’s first hydrogen model will be a special version of the Neue Klasse fifth-generation X5 and will be sold alongside petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric variants. In all likelihood, it’ll sell in lower numbers than all other versions, but it could prove to be a good option for the eco-conscious not interested in a hybrid or electric SUV.
Read: BMW’s New X5 To Offer Hydrogen Model Developed With Toyota
Sales of the hydrogen X5 will be limited to regions with the necessary fueling infrastructure, meaning availability will vary by market. Even so, BMW sees hydrogen as a meaningful addition to its lineup rather than a short-lived experiment.
From Early Trials To A Third Generation
BMW’s first generation of hydrogen powertrain premiered back in 2014 with a special 5-Series, known as the 535iA. This system was supplied entirely by Toyota. The current, second-generation powertrain debuted with the current iX5 Hydrogen test fleet, combining cells from Toyota and a fuel cell system designed by BMW itself. Underpinning the production-ready hydrogen X5 will be a new third-generation system.
Compared to previous generations, this new one takes up 25 percent less space, and the power density has been increased. Additionally, flexibility in the powertrain means it can be seamlessly integrated into future vehicle architectures. BMW is also promising better range and higher output, all while lowering energy consumption.
Building Toward Production
Prototype units of the latest system are already under development at BMW’s Munich headquarters. Once production begins in 2028, the finished fuel cell systems will roll off the line at the company’s facility in Steyr, Austria.
Visually, the fifth-generation X5 will be yet another BMW model to adopt the brand’s Neue Klasse design language, following on from other models like the all-electric 3-Series, known as the i3, as well as the second-gen iX3. Not only will big changes be made to the exterior, but the interior will also be all-new, complete with the brand’s new tilted infotainment display and panoramic screen running across the base of the windshield.
Opening illustration by Josh Byrnes/Carscoops
