The BMW Group has announced plans to launch its first fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) in 2028. The move is part of BMW’s strategy to reduce CO2 emissions per vehicle by 40 % for its entire life cycle, including the supply chain. production and use of the product by 2030. The company is also trying to get 50% of its global sales from electric vehicles (EV) by the same year. The decision to develop an FCEV model follows extensive testing of BMW’s iX5 hydrogen test vehicle, which will be introduced in early 2023. The iX5 Hydrogen was first unveiled as a concept car in the year 2019. At the time, BMW said it was seeing fuel cell technology for electric vehicles in addition to electric batteries. Airplanes around the world have been tested to assess the viability of hydrogen as a fuel source for future mobility.
The announcement coincided with a collaboration between BMW and Toyota focused on hydrogen technology. Toyota and BMW have been working together on fuel cell drive systems since 2013, and Toyota will supply fuel cells specifically for the iX5 hydrogen vehicle. The goal of this collaboration is to develop the third generation of fuel injection systems that will be installed in BMW and Toyota models. The partnership will also aim to create strategic and development links to lower costs and provide more opportunities for FCEVs for commercial and passenger use. The collaboration between BMW and Toyota will also address the need for infrastructure to support hydrogen vehicles. These companies are planning to work with hydrogen producers as well as distribution and fuel facilities to ensure a sustainable supply of hydrogen and reduce costs. By promoting hydrogen supply and construction, they aim to increase demand and facilitate the use of hydrogen as a substitute for oil. Oliver Zipes, Chairman of the Board of BMW AG, declared that this development is an important step in the history of the car. He emphasized the potential of hydrogen vehicles to play a major role in future mobility and emphasized the importance of technological progress in driving this transition. Toyota president Koji Sato said the partnership with BMW is based on a mutual commitment to “technological openness” and a multi-track approach to carbon neutrality. He said that these companies will deepen their cooperation for the joint development of the next generation fuel cell systems and the development of the necessary infrastructure to achieve a hydrogen society.