BMW plans for life after EVs
EVs are the future, it is often claimed, but this global giant is already planning for the next stage of motoring evolution, well beyond that of electric vehicles.
Electric car charging difficulties faced by people who live in high-rise units could be solved by hydrogen-powered vehicles, according to BMW’s expert in the field.
Dr Jurgen Guldner, general program manager for hydrogen technology at BMW, says “hydrogen is for everybody living in the high-rise buildings who cannot afford their own house with a garden and a garage and solar panels”.
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“If you have your own solar and plug in the car, please buy an battery electric car.
“I’m not against battery cars. But people who can’t do that, who don’t have solar on their house, who don’t have a garage with electric charging, for them it’s a different story.
“And charging publicly all the time … is more expensive and inconvenient.
“In all those use cases, we think hydrogen can be the solution, because it combines electric driving capabilities, you know, great acceleration, it’s silent.
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“The exhaust is water, so it’s very clean.
“But you can use the car as you can have used gasoline cars for a long time – go to a gas station, in three to four minutes you are 100 per cent full, and you keep going.”
BMW has experimented with hydrogen tech for years, originally burning it in combustion-powered vehicles with relatively conventional piston engines, before switching to fuel cells and electric motors in partnership with Toyota.
The brand’s next X5 luxury SUV will offer hydrogen as an option in some markets, along with petrol, diesel, electric and hybrid power plants.
It’s the first time BMW has offered five distinctly different power sources in one vehicle.
BMW Australia has trialled hydrogen technology in Melbourne and is examining the potential for it to be sold in Australia.
Company spokesman Nick Raman says “BMW Group Australia was part of the global test and evaluation program involving the BMW iX5 pilot fleet last year, and this generated valuable insights and knowledge to support the future production vehicle”.
“While we are interested in the production vehicle and studying different options ahead of the 2028 production timing, it is too early to confirm plans for our market,” he says.
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While the promise of hydrogen cars is brilliant – they deliver similar performance and driving experience to an electric vehicle, with the quick refuelling convenience of petrol models – the reality is trickier than that.
Hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in Australia is extremely limited compared to public EV charging stations.
But that may change in the future, as brands including BMW, Hyundai and Toyota continue to invest in the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
