BMW collaborates with Toyota on fuel-powered development
The German luxury car maker said on Thursday it plans to develop a new generation of fuel cell drive systems into a partnership with a Japanese corporation Toyota Motor. Series production will start in 2028, making a hydrogen version of the existing model available BMW.
Automotive companies are cutting costs
Development of hydrogen cell technology are blocked by the high costs of its development and the lack of appropriate fuel infrastructure. There is also a very small selection of powered cars. Among the few available models are Toyota Mirai and Nexo by Hyundai Motor. Global hydrogen car sales fell to just 9,000 units last year, analysts at BloombergNEF say.
BMW and Toyota They are planning jointly produce hydrogen powertrains for use in models of both car manufacturers. They expect that joint development and purchase of parts will help reduce costs and make more competitive technology. BMW declined to comment on the pricing of its future hydrogen cars.
Where will hydrogen fuel cells prove useful?
Supporters hydrogen cells claim that this technology can be effective in regions where battery charging infrastructure is not developed enough to support the transition to Electric vehicles. The energy for the drive will be provided by burned hydrogen, and only water will be emitted.
Hydrogen drive still being tested
Since 2023, BMW has been operating a small a test fleet of hydrogen-powered iX5 SUVs. CEO Oliver Zipse previously said hydrogen power could be an option for BMW’s “Neue Klasse” line of electric vehicles. “We are convinced that hydrogen will play a more important role in the future,” he told reporters Michael Rath, head of BMW’s hydrogen vehicle programduring a telephone conversation with a Bloomberg representative on Thursday.
