With the increasing sales of battery-powered electric vehicles, the future of clean and green motoring is nearer than anticipated. However, a rare alternative to BEVs is hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars. But you know it, and I know it, the concept has been a big flop in the past. However, carmakers have been busy experimenting with the limits and possibilities that could be achieved with hydrogen power. Besides the two mainstream brands, Toyota and Hyundai, which have an edge in the market, it seems that BMW will follow the same path and launch its first mass-production hydrogen-powered SUV by the end of 2025. A report from Nikkei Asia confirms that the Bavarian automaker will take all the help needed from Toyota to fulfill what was once a dream.

BMW and Toyota on a New Road of Partnership

This is not the first time both the esteemed carmakers have joined hands to manufacture cars. As you know, both the Z4 coupe and the Supra share the same platform and even the same straight-six engine. BMW’s sales boss, Pieter Nota, told Nikkei Asia, “we see that hydrogen fuel cell technology is particularly relevant for larger SUVs. We have various projects we work on with Toyota.” Toyota already has the Mirai FCV on the market, a decent car but not cost-effective. So sharing the technology with BMW could make it more popular.

The iX5 Hydrogen was unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, and the Bavarian automaker has confirmed that a small batch of the hydrogen-powered SUV will hit the market in early 2023. However, we don’t know the specifics of the iX5 Hydrogen, except for a meager 168-horsepower rating, but it is expected to carry two 13-pound tanks, which will make it suitable for long-distance travel. However, the upcoming new EV platform, Neue Klasse, is said to support Hydrogen fuel cells, which means that BMW does not have to develop another platform for hydrogen-powered cars.

The benefits of the FCVs are not unknown, as they can top up the hydrogen tank(s) in a matter of minutes, whereas it takes about an hour to charge a BEV fully on the fastest charger. BMW’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology and Vehicle Projects boss, Jürgen Guldner, has stated that “hydrogen fuel cell drive combined the best of both drive worlds: the locally emission-free mobility of an electric vehicle and the unrestricted suitability for everyday use, including short refueling stops, that we are all familiar with from models with combustion engines.”

BMW’s future is sorted, kind of

BMW will develop more efficient powertrains in the upcoming years, including hybrid and all-electric models. Pieter Nota has confirmed to Nikkei Asia that “we do believe in the importance of various technologies–battery electric vehicles, also hydrogen and efficient combustion engines– because we don’t want to put all our investment in one area.” In the future, we might see a whole fleet of FCVs from BMW, in the form of SUVs and sedans, but that depends on how the audience reacts to the upcoming iX5 Hydrogen SUV.