The prestigious car make said they will partner with Toyota to develop the car. Toyota has been working on hydrogen cars for a while, and with their help, BMW might be able to make a better version than other zero-emission cars.
One of the biggest issue with the new technology fuel-cell cars is the loss of power. The car needs to convert hydrogen in the tank into electricity to power the motor, and in this process, it can lose up to 30% of energy. In comparison, electric vehicles (EVs) power the motor directly from the battery, with losses of only 1-3%. Overall, hydrogen cars lose about 40%. BMW plans to reduce these losses by 20%.
The upcoming BMW car will have an electric motor that can produce up to 396 horsepower. It will also come with two hydrogen fuel tanks, which can hold up to six kilograms of fuel. While the price hasn’t been decided yet, it is expected to cost between $60,000 and $80,000, similar to BMW’s other models.
The premium engineering brand has tested the car in tough conditions, like sandy terrain and temperatures as high as 45°C. It performed well, making it a strong option for families.
The car manufacturer chose to make a hydrogen vehicle for environmental reasons. Scientists have shown that while EVs don’t release CO₂ when driving, their battery production does, and the batteries are hard to recycle.
BMW found a way to extract hydrogen from water that doesn’t release CO₂ and even produces oxygen (O₂) as a byproduct. However, some hydrogen production methods used globally are not as eco-friendly.
One of the biggest challenges is the lack of hydrogen refueling stations. Right now, there are only 921 stations worldwide—265 in Europe, 197 in China, and just 11 in Canada. Many stations are closing because there aren’t enough users. “First, we have a really close look on how the region develops toward hydrogen infrastructure. And also, what is the market demand? What its customers need in each region,” said, Micheal Rath, BMW’s vice president for hydrogen vehicles.
This gap might grow worse. Europe has announced plans to build hydrogen stations every 200 kilometers along the Trans-European Road, one of Europe’s busiest highways, before 2030. Because of this, many believe hydrogen cars will mostly sell in Europe and Asia.
BMW’s first fuel-cell car is set to launch for 2028. The car has many benefits, but some challenges, like infrastructure and energy losses, still need to be solved.
