Built with Toyota tech, BMW iX5 Hydrogen FCEV undergoes winter torture tests before production

Other than electric vehicles (EV) – of which Malaysia welcomed the Ioniq 5 and Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 this week – hydrogen-fuelled cars are another bet on clean motoring. Munich is in the game too, and they're currently undergoing final winter tests for the BMW iX5 Hydrogen.

The car is currrently being driven on icy, snowy public roads and at the BMW Group's testing centre in Arjeplog, Sweden. This is near the Arctic Circle, so the sub-zero temperatures allow the carmaker to ensure SUV's fuel cell system, hydrogen tanks, battery, and central vehicle control unit continue to deliver 'unrestricted performance' in such situations.

Also read: Elon Musk calls hydrogen cars “mind-boggingly stupid”, but BMW still believes in them

This extreme-weather flogging also tests the reliability of the steering, springs, dampers, chassis and regenerative braking systems.

Its powertrain is a joint effort between BMW and Toyota, the latter for its fuel cell technology. Stored in twin carbon-fibre-reinforced-plastic (CFRP) tanks, the fuel cells converts the hydrogen into electric power, generating output of 170 PS.

Also read: Toyota wants to use hydrogen save the internal combustion engine, when everyone else is giving up

At the same time, the electric motor can add energy stored in a high-voltage battery (fed by regenerative braking and juice from fuel cells) for additional boost, up to a maximum output of 374 PS. This is all clean, zero carbon dioxide energy, and the only emissions emitted are water vapour.

“The winter testing under extreme conditions clearly shows that the BMW iX5 Hydrogen can also deliver full performance in temperatures of -20°C and therefore represents a viable alternative to a vehicle powered by a battery-electric drive system,” says Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development.

Also read: Toyota won't let V8s die in EV era, develops hydrogen-powered mill with Yamaha

Refueling, most importantly, stays quick: replenishing the iX5's hydrogen tanks only takes three to four minutes, even in the depths of winter. Pretty familiar to regular petrol stops, and definitely way faster than an EV can currently manage.

The company will produce a small series of the model later in 2022, and at the same time, are also keen on helping to expand the network of hydrogen fueling stations. “For us to be able to offer our customers a fuel cell drive system as an attractive sustainable mobility solution, a sufficiently extensive hydrogen infrastructure also needs to be in place," Weber said.

Also read: BEV vs FCEV: Hyundai-Kia explains why Mercedes, Tesla, and VW are wrong