BMW i Hydrogen NEXT: hydrogen fuel cell technology

The development of alternative forms of drive is a top priority for the BMW Group. With the first virtual insights into the drive system of the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT, the premium manufacturer is once again underlining its commitment to tread a well thought-out and consistent path to emission-free mobility. Customer orientation and the flexibility it requires are fundamental factors in helping sustainable mobility achieve a breakthrough on a global level.

Klaus Happy, Board Member for Development at BMW AG: "We are convinced that in the future different alternative forms of drive will coexist, since there is no single solution that covers all mobility requirements of customers worldwide. Of the Hydrogen fuel cell drive can long-term   fourth pillar in our drive portfolio. This is where the upper end of our X family comes in, which is very popular with our customers.“The BMW Group has been working with Toyota Motor Corporation in the field of fuel cell technology since 2013.

Future perspective for hydrogen fuel cell technology. While the long-term potential of the fuel cell drive is out of the question for the BMW Group, it will become its customer not yet a production vehicle at short notice offer with hydrogen fuel cell technology. This is primarily due to the currently not suitable conditions. Klaus Fröhlich: "In our view, it must Hydrogen as an energy source initially in sufficient quantities, produced with green electricity and at competitive prices will. Hydrogen will then be used primarily in applications that cannot be directly electrified, for example in long-haul heavy goods traffic.“In addition, it is required infrastructure such as a European, nationwide network of hydrogen filling stations currently not yet givento offer BMW customers a vehicle.

However, the BMW Group is continuing its development efforts in hydrogen fuel cell technology and is using the time to significantly reduce the production costs of the drive system until the infrastructure and an adequate supply of sustainably produced hydrogen are in place. The BMW Group is currently launching battery-electric vehicles with sustainable energy supplies and will have a wide range of electrified vehicles ready for its customers by 2023. A total of 25 models are planned by then, of which at least twelve are fully electric.

First technical details of the drive in the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT

"In the drive system of the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT this creates Fuel cell system up to 125 kW (170 PS) electrical energy obtained from the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen from the air"Says Jürgen Guldner, Head of BMW Group Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology and Vehicle Projects. This means that the vehicle only emits water vapor. The electrical converter, which is located below the fuel cell, adjusts its voltage level to that of the electrical drive and the power buffer battery. This is fed by the braking energy and the energy of the fuel cell. Are in the vehicle itself two 700 bar tanks housed that together six kilograms of hydrogen grasp. Guldner: "This guarantees long ranges in all weather conditions. Of the Refueling just takes three to four minutes claim". The BMW i Hydrogen NEXT is also fully integrated Fifth generation electric drivehow it will be used for the first time in the BMW iX3.

The Power buffer battery, which is positioned above the electric machine, for example when overtaking or accelerating for additional dynamics to care. The system performance total 275 kW (374 PS) and ensures typical BMW driving dynamics. The BMW Group is equipped with this hydrogen fuel cell electric drive 2022   small series to introduce, based on the current BMW X5. At the earliest in the second half of this decade and depending on market requirements and general conditions, the BMW Group will Customer offer start with hydrogen fuel cell technology.

Cooperation with Toyota continued.

In order to be optimally prepared for the technological requirements of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle by the second half of the decade, the BMW Group has been cooperating successfully with the Toyota Motor Corporation since 2013. Based on a product development cooperation agreement, both manufacturers are working together on fuel cell drive systems and scalable, modular components for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Fuel cells from the cooperation with Toyota are already used in the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT. The so-called fuel cell stack and the overall system are original developments by the BMW Group. In addition to working with Toyota to develop and industrialize fuel cell technology to make it suitable for the mass market, both companies are founding members of the Hydrogen Council. Since 2017, many other leading companies in the energy sector, business and industry have joined. The Hydrogen Council now has more than 80 members.

BMW Group in the BRYSON research project.

The BMW Group also underscores the belief in the future viability and potential of hydrogen fuel cell technology with its involvement in the BRYSON research project (space-efficient HYdrogen storage facilities with optimized usability). The aim of this merger of BMW AG, Munich University of Applied Sciences, Leichtbauzentrum Sachsen GmbH, Dresden University of Technology and WELA Handelsgesellschaft mbH is to develop new types of hydrogen pressure accumulators. These should be designed in such a way that they can be easily integrated into universal vehicle architectures. The aim of the project is the development of flat tank tanks. The three-and-a-half-year project, which is also funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, will also result in a reduction in the production costs of hydrogen tanks for fuel cell vehicles. This will improve their competitiveness compared to battery electric vehicles.

Of course that had not happened yet!

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Hydrogen fuel cell technology

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