Beijing, September 5th, 2024 – BMW announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Toyota to develop a new generation of fuel cell power systems, with plans to begin mass production and sales in 2028. The German automaker aims to introduce hydrogen-powered vehicles as a viable alternative to electric cars.
BMW has been pursuing this technology for years, but high costs and a lack of hydrogen refueling infrastructure have been two significant hurdles. Currently, only a few hydrogen-powered vehicles, such as the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo, are available in the market. According to BloombergNEF, global hydrogen-powered car sales reached just 9,000 units last year.
Supporters of fuel cells argue that their primary advantage lies in their ultra-long range, making them an effective supplement to electric vehicles during the transition period, especially in areas where charging infrastructure is still underdeveloped. The technology generates electricity by burning hydrogen, with only water as a byproduct.
BMW and Toyota plan to jointly produce hydrogen fuel cell systems for vehicles from both manufacturers. They expect that the joint development and procurement of components will help reduce costs, making the technology more competitive. BMW declined to comment on the pricing of its future hydrogen-powered vehicles.
It is worth noting that BMW has been operating a small fleet of hydrogen-powered iX5 SUVs since 2023 to collect real-world driving data. Company CEO Oliver Zipse previously revealed that hydrogen-powered vehicles are expected to be an important option in BMW’s upcoming Neue Klasse electric vehicle series, set to be launched next year.
Michael Las, the project manager for BMW’s hydrogen-powered vehicles, expressed his firm confidence in the future of hydrogen energy during a Thursday phone interview: We firmly believe that hydrogen will play a more crucial role in the future energy structure.
This collaboration between BMW and Toyota marks a significant step forward in the hydrogen-powered vehicle industry, as the two automakers aim to address the challenges of high costs and limited infrastructure. With their combined expertise and resources, they hope to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles and contribute to a more sustainable future.
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