BMW plans to start series production of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) in 2028. The Japanese carmaker Toyota and BMW have agreed to jointly develop the next generation of fuel cell technology. The cooperation in purchasing and development is intended to ensure large quantities and reduce costs.

BMW CEO Oliver Zipse says this “will usher in an era of significant demand for fuel cell electric vehicles.” Toyota President Koji Sato spoke of a new stage in the long-standing collaboration between the two companies “with the aim of building a hydrogen society.”

Given the increasing scarcity of battery raw materials on the one hand and inadequate e-charging networks on the other, Zipse does not want to put all his eggs in one basket. He sees electric cars that get their power from hydrogen instead of a battery as a perfect complement.

Other manufacturers have already put hydrogen cars into series production

The two-year testing of a small series of the hydrogen BMW iX5 Hydrogen with customers in Asia, America and Europe has shown that the technology is very robust, ready for use and ready for series production, says project manager Michael Rath. This will also make the group more independent of highly sought-after battery raw materials such as lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt.

Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and some other manufacturers already have the technology in series production. There are only a few hydrogen filling stations in Germany – in China, South Korea, Japan and California the network is much better, explains Rath. A nationwide network is being built for trucks anyway.

The company has not yet announced in which plant BMW will build its hydrogen car in series. E-charging networks, hydrogen infrastructure and BMW sales figures play a role.

Customer needs vary worldwide

Customers’ wishes vary around the world. An FCEV runs on green hydrogen and is just as emission-free as a battery-powered car. In contrast to a battery-powered car, however, it can travel long distances even in extreme heat or cold without long charging breaks, emphasizes Rath. A tank fill takes just three minutes. The hydrogen supplies the power for the electric motor via the fuel cell, and only water vapor comes out of the exhaust.

The company has not yet announced which model BMW will also offer as a hydrogen car. But the advantages are more evident in large, heavy vehicles. And the production costs are high because of the small quantities and the expensive platinum in the fuel cells.

Toyota is a leader in fuel cells

BMW buys the fuel cells for its hydrogen car from Toyota and supplies components to the Japanese company. Toyota is considered the world leader in fuel cells and has been on the market for a long time with the luxury sedan Mirai. China is also relying on a combination of battery-powered cars (BEV), plug-in hybrids (PHEV) and hydrogen cars (FCEV).

Hydrogen is easy to transport and is considered a good electricity storage medium for excess wind and solar energy. Using electricity directly is more efficient than using hydrogen indirectly. “But it is even less efficient to switch off wind turbines and solar systems when their electricity is not needed,” says Rath.