After a more linked strategy towards electrification, BMW returns to its hydrogen technology development, which began approximately 10 years ago, but had been relegated due to the costs involved.
Currently, the German brand has focused again its efforts on this type of fuels, and announced the introduction of the BMW ix5, a car that will be the standard-bearer of the i Hydrogen Next project.
Based on the conventional X5, this line will have several specific aesthetic details, such as the grille with blue inner edges and a triangular lattice. The blue details are present in several bodywork sectors: the lower part of the bumper, the 22-inch alloy wheels – shod with sustainable Pirelli tires – and the rear bumper – with a diffuser in place of the dual exhaust outlet.
The Power
The prototype will have a battery that generates up to 170 hp, releasing water vapor as the only waste residue. The electricity produced will be used to power an engine that has been developed under BMW’s fifth-generation eDrive program and which, under inertia or braking, also serves as an electrical generator.
Image: BMW
This energy is stored in a lithium-ion battery, used as a battery booster in certain situations, for example, when demanding maximum thrust from the engine, which can be 374 hp.
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The hydrogen needed for the fuel cell is stored in two carbon fiber-reinforced plastic tanks. They can store almost 6 kilograms, and although BMW has not specified the autonomy, it would probably be between 500 and 600 km (310 and 600 miles).
Vehicle Interior
As a curious fact exposed by the manufacturer on the configuration of the car, the aesthetic kit was created from 3D printing, a resource that will be part of the future of the automotive industry.
On the inside, the dashboard, already known from the X5, also incorporates blue features on the door panels, dashboard, selector and center console. The technology is also starring with the 100% digital instrumentation configurable by the driver and BMW Professional multimedia system.
Image: BMW
The initial plan of BMW is to produce a small series of the iX5, for demonstration and testing purposes, which will begin by the end of 2022 to test its viability, which would seem positive due to the European Union measures being taken regarding the implementation of this fuel.
Written by I Jhonattan González
