Monday 6 April 2020

BMW says hydrogen powertrain technology is a ‘top priority’

BMW has reaffirmed its commitment to emission-free mobility and said developing alternative technologies is a 'top priority'.

The automaker has also joined forces with the Toyota Motor Corporation to work on fuel cell powertrain systems and modular components for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Fuel cells from the cooperation with Toyota will be deployed in the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT, alongside a fuel cell stack and overall system developed by the BMW Group.

Jürgen Guldner, Vice President of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology and Vehicle Projects at the BMW Group, said: “The fuel cell system for the powertrain for the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT generates up to 125kW of electric energy from the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen from the ambient air."

This means the vehicle emits nothing but water vapour. The electric converter located underneath the fuel cell adapts the voltage level to that of both the electric powertrain and the peak power battery, which is fed by brake energy as well as the energy from the fuel cell.