BMW has kickstarted inhouse production of fuel cell systems for its iX5 Hydrogen cars.

BMW says hydrogen-powered vehicles are “ideally placed technologically to fit alongside battery-electric vehicles and complete the electric mobility picture”

The group also confirmed that it’s pushing ahead with trials of a small fleet of the hydrogen-powered SUV from the end of this year for test and demonstration purposes.

Produced at the company’s competence centre for hydrogen in Munich, the fuel cell system uses individual fuel cells sourced from Toyota; the two companies have been collaborating on fuel cell drive systems since 2013. The individual fuel cells are then assembled into a fuel cell stack, which generates 170hp. This is combined with two hydrogen tanks, a high-performance battery and a fifth-generation BMW eDrive electric motor into the existing X5 platform, delivering a total 374hp of power.

Further components are then fitted in a final system assembly stage, such as the compressor, the anode and cathode, the high-voltage coolant pump and the wiring harness.

BMW said hydrogen is a versatile energy source that has a key role to play on the road to climate neutrality.

Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW AG, said: “We think hydrogen-powered vehicles are ideally placed technologically to fit alongside battery-electric vehicles and complete the electric mobility picture. By commencing small-scale production of fuel cells today, we are demonstrating the technical maturity of this type of drive system and underscoring its potential for the future.”

It’s the latest work by BMW on hydrogen power and the group claims to lead the way in the development of the technology.

“Our many years of research and development work have enabled us to get the very most out of hydrogen technology,” added Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development. “We have managed to more than double the fuel cell’s continuous output in the second-generation fuel cell in the #BMW iX5 Hydrogen, while weight and size have both decreased drastically.”

Tests by BMW have already said to have already successfully demonstrated the iX5 Hydrogen’s everyday usability, even at very low temperatures, during the final round of winter testing in Sweden at the start of this year.