BMW locks in FCEV series production for 2028

BMW has announced it will release its first series production hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) in 2028 as it eyes a ‘resilient’ and ‘flexible’ powertrain strategy going forward.

The revelation comes after years of testing, development, study and evaluation of the technology, including the creation of a fleet of fully-functioning iX5 Hydrogen prototypes.

BMW executives wouldn’t be drawn on the identity of its first mass-production FCEV but said the preceding development work would be in collaboration with Toyota and result in both brands reaping the rewards.

According to BMW Group’s vice president of hydrogen vehicles, Michael Rath, BMW and Toyota will combine their respective expertise and resources across all facets of the project, ranging from the design and development of components right through to strengthening hydrogen infrastructure and availability.

“We don’t see battery-electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles as rivals,” he said.

“Hydrogen vehicles are also electric vehicles – the main difference is the way the energy is stored in the car.

“From a customer perspective, it combines the best of both worlds: driving like a battery-electric vehicle with the advantage of fast refuelling.”

Rath likened going all-in on battery-electric technology to standing on one leg in that it’s possible but not ideal, describing FCEVs as ‘the other leg’.

BMW and Toyota have been collaborating on FCEV technology for the best part of a decade now – in addition to other projects – with the first major milestone being the creation and real-world testing of the iX5 Hydrogen fleet, which featured Toyota-supplied fuel stacks under the bonnet.

This time around however things will be a little bit different as BMW says it will be focusing on the fuel cell system with Toyota lending technical assistance.

“We are joining within this approach our forces, so it's not that Toyota is providing full cell systems to BMW, Toyota is bringing in the immense expertise in fuel cell itself, and we are bringing in our competency in system design, and we are mutually designing a fuel cell system for both our cars,” Rath said.

“With joining our forces and bringing together our volume, we will leverage one-off costs and we will bring on all out expertise to bring down disproportional costs and to have as much synergies as possible.”

Rather than create or release a dedicated hydrogen model like Toyota did with the Mirai and Hyundai with the Nexo, BMW plans to integrate its FCEVs into its existing portfolio and ultimately give customers the choice between internal combustion, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric and fuel cell powertrains.

Rath kept the cards close to his chest about which model(s) would emerge first – though a production-spec iX5 Hydrogen would make sense – and was unwilling to discuss any possible M High Performance applications of the FCEV tech going forward.

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