BMW, one of the car industry's strongest proponents of hydrogen technology, is putting a close-to-production prototype called iX5 through its paces in a remote, frozen part of Sweden. It plans to begin building the hydrogen-electric SUV in limited numbers before the end of 2022.
Hydrogen isn't a new item on Munich's powertrain menu; BMW built and tested a small number of hydrogen-powered 7 Series sedans from 2005 to 2007. Much has changed over the past 17 years, however.While the big sedans burned hydrogen in an internal combustion engine, the iX5 is fitted with a fuel cell that uses hydrogen stored in a pair of 700-bar carbon fiber tanks to generate electricity that's then sent to a battery pack. The fuel cell develops 170 horsepower, while the same electric motor found in the iX increases the system's total output to 374.
Testing the iX5 near Arjeplog, a town in Sweden that's further north than Fairbanks, Alaska, is a way for engineers to gather data about how the system performs in really cold real-life conditions. So far, the results are positive:
Testing the iX5 near Arjeplog, a town in Sweden that's further north than Fairbanks, Alaska, is a way for engineers to gather data about how the system performs in really cold real-life conditions. So far, the results are positive:
BMW notes that, even when the thermometer drops to -4 degrees Fahrenheit, the powertrain delivers its full operating range — which certainly can't be said about electric cars — and full performance. autoblog - link - Ronan Glon - link - more like this - link - more like this (Sweden) - link
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