BMW Starts Production of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen FCEV in Germany

The European Union’s plan to ban the sale of CO2-emitting cars by 2035 has prompted giant automakers to scrap their ongoing plans and go full EV. As battery-powered EVs (BEVs) require rare and expensive materials to be produced, some traditional carmakers opted for other carbon-free alternatives, such as hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) instead.

Aside from a few Japanese marques such as Honda and Toyota, German automaker BMW has also yet to lose faith in the future of FCEVs, with the brand now beginning to produce iX5 Hydrogen FCEV. Taking place at BMW’s Research and Innovation Centre in Munich, Germany, said production will be in a small scale to ensure its first-time models’ manufacturing process is smooth and manageable before going full production.

Commenting on the brand’s decision to produce FCEVs alongside its growing BEV line-up, BMW development boss Frank Weber says “Hydrogen is a versatile energy source that has a key role to play as we progress towards climate neutrality.”

“Fuel cells don’t require any critical raw materials such as cobalt, lithium or nickel either, so by investing in this type of drive system we are also strengthening the geopolitical resilience of the BMW Group,” the exec added.

Housing about 900 employees, BMW’s Munich Research and Innovation Centre has always been the marque’s pilot plant for years. The Munich plant acts as the litmus test for productions of new BMW models, prepping them to be ready for mass production in other BMW plants.

Prior to being assembled in Munich, the iX5’s life begins at BMW’s Spartanburg USA plant, where the base X5s are built beforehand. The Munich plant will then oversee the installation of new floor assembly that accommodates enough room to fit a pair of hydrogen tanks. The rest of its FCEV components such as the 12-Volt and 400-Volt electric systems, fuel cells and battery packs are also being installed in the Munich plant.

Each and every iX5s that goes out from the Munich plant will then undergo a comprehensive operational check at BMW’s test centre in Aschheim, Germany.

As mentioned earlier, other manufacturers such as Honda has also ventured into FCEVS production, where the Japanese marque plans to build a new FCEV model based on the current-gen CR-V. Similar to its German counterpart, Honda’s new FCEV will also be produced in a small scale at their very own Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Ohio, US.

The all-new BMW iX5 Hydrogen will make its unofficial road debut in Spring 2023, with fleets of test vehicles used as ‘technology demonstrator’ in selected regions.

With its fellow rivals Volkswagen and Mercedes pumping out new EV models every year, will this revelation see other European carmakers to opt for FCEVs too in near future? Only time will tell…