BMW has proceeded to the field tests of its i Hydrogen NEXT concept designed together with Toyota with the X5 SUV as the starting point.
The Bavarian company will be using multiple test vehicles to assess their safety, reliability, fuel efficiency and practicality, as well as to optimize the software settings. Powering each example is an electrochemical generator producing 170 PS (167 hp / 125 kW). The electric motors rotating the wheels generate up to 374 PS (369 hp / 275 kW).
BMW unveiled the concept car at the 2019 IAA Frankfurt show, highlighting its impressive driving range and fast refueling: you need no longer than four minutes to top up hydrogen tanks, while charging a conventional EV usually takes longer than that.
Of course, there are downsides as well. For one, there is nothing like a well-developed network of hydrogen refueling stations anywhere in the world, not even in Europe. BMW still hopes to start producing fuel cell cars in late 2022 and proceed to full-scale production in 2025 or so.
In recent news, Land Rover announced a similar modification of its Defender SUV. The British car company believes there will be over 10 million hydrogen cars worldwide by 2030, and over 10 thousand gas stations.