Mexican Media Brands
BMW Readies Low-Volume X5 Fuel Cell Model
BMW AG plans to introduce a fuel cell-powered version of the X5 SUV/crossover vehicle early next decade, development chief Klaus Frolich tells Forbes.
#hybrid
Share
BMW AG plans to introduce a fuel cell-powered version of the X5 SUV/crossover vehicle early next decade, development chief Klaus Frolich tells Forbes.
The vehicles initially will be sold in small volumes as part of a pilot program in unspecified markets.
Frohlich doesn’t anticipate BMW mass-producing a fuel cell vehicle until at least 2025. He says the costs of fuel cell stacks should drop from about €80,000 ($90,000) to €10,000 ($11,000) by then.
BMW has been working on fuel cell systems for about 20 years. The X5 fuel cell model will use technology developed under a 7-year-old partnership with Toyota Motor Corp.
Currently, the only carmakers to offer fuel cell vehicles are Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota. Audi and General Motors also are developing the technology, which can provide longer driving ranges than full electric vehicles.
In addition to high costs, the lack of a hydrogen infrastructure has prevented wider adoption of fuel cell vehicles.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Plastics: The Tortoise and the Hare
Plastic may not be in the news as much as some automotive materials these days, but its gram-by-gram assimilation could accelerate dramatically.
-
On Zeekr, the Price of EVs, and Lighting Design
About Zeekr, failure, the price of EVs, lighting design, and the exceedingly attractive Karma
-
Jeeps Modified for Moab
On Easter morning in Moab, Utah, when the population of that exceedingly-hard-to-get-to town in one of the most beautiful settings on Earth has more than doubled, some people won’t be hunting for Easter eggs, but will be trying to get a good look at one of the vehicles six that Jeep has prepared for real-life, fast-feedback from the assembled at the annual Easter Jeep Safari.
