It’s going to take a variety of options to appreciate the carbon-neutral operations many automakers, together with BMW, have pledged to succeed in by the center of this century. Battery-electric automobiles (BEVs) will shoulder the majority of the clean-energy load going ahead, however the German producer is just not alone in believing that hydrogen-powered fuel-cell automobiles (FCVs) can be a vital a part of the combo. Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota additionally share that sentiment with their present and upcoming FCV fashions. After driving a brand new iX5 FCV prototype in Belgium, we got here away considering that BMW could also be onto one thing, even when that one thing doubtless will not come to fruition for one more decade or two.
Fewer than 100 iX5s can be constructed this yr as a part of an indication fleet for varied regulatory our bodies and advertising and marketing endeavors. Solely a small handful will come to the US, the place—in contrast to Central Europe and elements of Asia—hydrogen infrastructure is virtually nonexistent outdoors of California. Manufacturing entails delivery an X5 from its Spartanburg, South Carolina, birthplace to the BMW Analysis and Innovation Heart in Munich. There, they match a brand new ground to accommodate the iX5’s two cylindrical, carbon-fiber hydrogen tanks nestled in its heart tunnel and beneath the rear seat. Gas capability quantities to about 16 kilos of gaseous hydrogen pressurized to 10,150 psi, which is sweet for round 310 miles of estimated vary per Europe’s optimistic WTLP methodology (that equates to about 260 miles of vary within the U.S., in response to the EPA’s cycles). In contrast to with a BEV, refilling the iX5 at one of many hydrogen stations round Antwerp solely takes a couple of minutes and can be acquainted to anybody who has ever pumped their very own gasoline.
Below the iX5’s cargo space is a rear drive axle and current-excited synchronous motor from a BMW iX. Sitting atop it’s 400-volt lithium-ion battery with about 2.0 kWh of usable capability, which exists as an influence buffer to the gas cell to assist in acceleration and in addition to recoup vitality beneath braking. The fuel-cell stack itself resides beneath the iX5’s hood and contains core cell components from BMW’s longtime FCV companion, Toyota. BMW developed the remainder of the meeting, together with the stack’s cooler and humidifier that optimize the system’s air high quality, plus a robust compressor to shortly shove oxygen into the cells’ membranes, the place the principle chemical response takes place. In accordance with BMW, these enhancements lead to each fast response to accelerator inputs and the gas cell’s skill to repeatedly run at most energy. As with all FCVs, electrical energy and water vapor are the one byproducts, with whole system output a good 395 horsepower.
You can spot the iX5 by its many blue accents and the stickers working throughout its hood and down its flanks. From behind the wheel, the expertise is wholly uneventful, which is the purpose. This automobile drives precisely as you’d count on an electrical X5 to—clean, quiet, and refined. Its steering is pleasantly direct, and its air springs and adaptive dampers return properly balanced physique motions. Journey consolation on our pattern automotive’s 20-inch run-flat winter tires was good, although the usual 22-inch Pirelli P Zeros certainly will degrade {that a} bit. A number of drive modes fluctuate the iX5’s sportiness accordingly, whereas paddles on its steering wheel alter the regenerative braking from a bit of to quite a bit. Mat the precise pedal, and the Bimmer accelerates briskly with the low-end punch of a BEV, thanks partially to the gas cells’ skill to concurrently contribute vitality to the traction motor and assist keep a excessive state of cost for the battery. Site visitors congestion throughout our drive offered us with zero alternative for enjoyable, however BMW’s claims of acceleration to 62 mph in round six seconds and a 115-mph high pace are fully plausible.
Together with being simpler to refuel, the iX5 highlights further advantages of FCVs over comparable BEVs. For one, fuel-cell automobiles are typically lighter, largely as a result of they require solely a modestly sized battery; BMW says the iX5’s curb weight is just like that of the X5 plug-in hybrid, the final of which we examined weighed 5627 kilos. In fact, the equally sized electrical iX, with its giant 105.2-kWh pack, is barely heavier, however its construction employs extra light-weight supplies than the X5’s which might be value a couple-hundred-pound weight discount. One other profit for FCVs is that their smaller battery means they require considerably fewer components that are actually in excessive demand to provide, similar to lithium, cobalt, and nickel, although small quantities of platinum are wanted for the gas cell itself. The efficiency of gas cells is extra secure in excessive temperatures, too, notably within the chilly. Whereas freezing water emissions inside a gas cell can certainly be an issue, BMW says the iX5 overcomes this by using compressed air to blast residual water out of its cells and into drainage circuits. As for these questioning what occurred to BMW’s earlier work on hydrogen internal-combustion engines, technical points and the inherent similarities between FCVs and BEVs have killed that enterprise case.
Proponents of FCVs argue that due to their strengths, particularly their lowered mass and lessened want for unique supplies, gas cells scale up effectively in bigger purposes, similar to heavy vehicles and ships with ample house to accommodate sizable storage tanks. Huge industries similar to metal processing are starting to make the most of hydrogen as effectively, and BMW is betting that such purposes can be key to the long run growth of FCVs. Certainly, the corporate’s technique rests on hydrogen turning into extra sensible (and reasonably priced) for transportation use as its recognition in different sectors will increase. “It is all about timing,” says Oliver Zipse, chairman of BMW’s Board of Administration, likening a coming set off level from hydrogen’s anticipated broader adoption to what lithium-ion batteries have carried out for BEVs.
However do not count on to see an iX5 in your driveway anytime quickly. BMW considers this FCV pilot program akin to its preliminary restricted rollout of BEVs, which included the primary Mini E in 2009 and the BMW ActiveE in 2012. But whilst the corporate develops versatile automobile architectures to assist fuel-cell powertrains, FCVs will primarily be a complementary—and sure backed—expertise in markets which might be keen to deal with the convoluted economics of getting hydrogen to shoppers. Ongoing provide disruptions in Europe, for instance, have considerably elevated the price of hydrogen effectively above that of gasoline and diesel gas on a per-mile foundation. In fact, none of this helps with long-term sustainability until hydrogen is produced utilizing clear vitality sources similar to wind, photo voltaic, and nuclear, amongst others. Briefly, as compelling as BMW’s hydrogen tech could also be, it is solely a small piece sooner or later vitality puzzle.
Technical Editor
Mike Sutton is an editor, author, check driver, and common automotive nerd who has contributed to Automobile and Driver‘s reverent and irreverent ardour for the auto since 2008. A local Michigander from suburban Detroit, he enjoys the outside and complaining concerning the climate, has an affection for off-road automobiles, and believes in federal safety for naturally aspirated engines.