Pilot fleet of hydrogen BMW iX5s tested in the UK

A pilot fleet of BMW iX5 Hydrogen cars are being put through their paces, with four of the fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in the UK as part of an international trial.

Following four years of development work, BMW says that during this next phase it is keen to understand how the hydrogen-powered vehicle will perform in real-world conditions.

Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management at BMW, said: “Hydrogen is a versatile energy source that has a key role to play in the energy transition process and therefore in climate protection. After all, it is one of the most efficient ways of storing and transporting renewable energies.

“We should use this potential to also accelerate the transformation of the mobility sector. Hydrogen is the missing piece in the jigsaw when it comes to emission-free mobility. One technology on its own will not be enough to enable climate-neutral mobility worldwide.”

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen was first unveiled as a concept at the IAA show in 2019. Initial prototypes were then made available at the IAA Mobility 2021 for visitors to experience in action as shuttle vehicles.

The hydrogen needed to supply the fuel cell is stored in two 700-bar tanks made of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP).

Together these hold almost six kilograms of hydrogen, enough to give the BMW iX5 Hydrogen a range of 504 km (313 miles) in the WLTP cycle.

Filling up the hydrogen tanks only takes three to four minutes.