BMW Isn’t Done With Hydrogen : The BMW i Hydrogen NEXT

• Hydrogen technology jointly developed with Toyota.

• Total system output is 374-horsepower.

• Hydrogen fuel cell technology is only one powertrain option for BMW going forward.

Hydrogen’s been on BMW’s mind for a very long time. More than a dozen years ago, we got to drive the BMW Hydrogen 7 and the least we could say is that it worked well. Its main limitation was refilling the tank. Today, a hydrogen refueling infrastructure is still all but completely non-existent however this is not stopping BMW from producing a limited run of fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) i Hydrogen NEXT crossovers as of 2022.

One of the Hydrogen 7’s shortcomings was its lack of punch. This new technology, jointly developed with Toyota, addresses this issue. The powertrain relies on a pair of hydrogen tanks to provide extra range which, once the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen is completed, produces up to 170-horsepower. The other element to the system is BMW’s 5th-generation eDrive unit that combines a battery and an electric motor. All told, the entire system delivers a satisfying 374-horsepower.

The powertrain will be installed in a current-generation BMW X5 and will be built in a small series. Depending on the results of this “test”, global market conditions and requirements, BMW bring the product to market in the second half of the decade.