Hydrogen-powered BMW iX5 undergoes extreme weather testing

BMW will soon be revealing a version of the X5 which is powered by hydrogen, called the BMW iX5 Hydrogen.

The upcoming model is currently being tested under extreme weather conditions in before it enters the final phase of production.

According to BMW, the extreme weather testing is being conducted at the company's testing facility in Sweden where the weather drops way below freezing temperatures.

BMW said that the test program also aims to demonstrate how well the BMW iX5 Hydrogen's hydrogen fuel cell drive system can perform and meet the mobility requirements of daily life in places with bad weather throughout the year.

It is said that some of the ice surfaces and snow-covered paths were prepared specially in an effort to put the drivetrain and chassis systems of the iX5 Hydrogen to the test.

To be specific, the list of components that are being observed and evaluated in the testing process include the hydrogen tank, the peak power battery, and the ventral vehicle unit.

BMW also revealed that it is noting down if the level of refinement and comfort are compromised when the vehicle is being driven under extreme conditions.

Once the testing is complete, BMW will produce a small batch of the iX5 Hydrogen later this year, while also expanding the network of hydrogen fuelling stations in Europe.

“The winter testing under extreme conditions clearly shows that the BMW iX5 Hydrogen can also deliver full performance in temperatures of -20°C and therefore represents a viable alternative to a vehicle powered by a battery-electric drive system,” says Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG. 

“For us to be able to offer our customers a fuel cell drive system as an attractive sustainable mobility solution, a sufficiently extensive hydrogen infrastructure also needs to be in place.”

Packing a lot of power on tap like an EV,  BMW claims that the iX5 Hydrogen's fuel cell drive system will offer owners with the same everyday usability as a conventional internal combustion engine.

BMW also mentioned that the drive system continues to offer its full operating range even in freezing conditions.

The company shared that replenishing the hydrogen tanks takes only three to four minutes, even in the depths of winter.

In case you're wondering how powerful the hydrogen drivetrain is, the fuel cell converts the hydrogen into electric power, generating output of 170 hp.

The combined system output  on the other hand, is rated at 374 hp. Also, the only emission released by the fuel cell is water vapour.

Another advantage of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen is that it weighs less than a comparable battery-electric model.

In all, this test along with products like the iX5 Hydrogen show that BMW’s i division could in the future offer vehicles with a hydrogen fuel cell drive system alongside its battery-electric models.

This would allow it, most strikingly, to meet the mobility requirements of customers who do not have their own access to electric charging infrastructure, frequently travel long distances or desire a high degree of flexibility.

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