The BMW Group has started to test vehicles that use a hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain, with the German automotive giant putting the technology through its paces “in everyday conditions on European roads.”
In an announcement , the firm explained prototypes of the BMW i Hydrogen Next would be tested on a range of metrics including reliability, safety and efficiency.
It described hydrogen fuel cell tech as having the “long term potential to supplement internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrid systems and battery-electric vehicles.”
The technology could, BMW went on to add, “become an attractive alternative to battery-electric drive trains – especially for customers who do not have their own access to electric charging infrastructure or who frequently drive long distances.” It’s hoped the tests will lead to the production of a small-series model in 2022.
The vehicles’ individual cells are provided by Toyota, with BMW developing the fuel cell stack and complete drive system. The BMW i Hydrogen Next’s hydrogen tank can be filled in three to four minutes, the company says, providing drivers with “a range of several hundred kilometres in all weather conditions.”
BMW is one of several automotive firms exploring the potential of hydrogen.
Jaguar Land Rover also said it was working on the prototype of a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle with testing of the concept later this year.
The vehicle will be based on the new version of the company’s Land Rover Defender, and is part of JLR’s broader attempt to meet a target of zero tailpipe emissions by the year 2036. Testing will focus on areas such as fuel consumption and off-road capabilities.
Meanwhile the Hydrogen Utilization & Green Energy (HUGE) project, funded by the INTERREG Northern Periphery and Arctic programme held a webinar on June 22 titled: ‘H2 Trucks:An Opportunity for Heavy Vehicles Decarbonisation’.
In this webinar, the development plans for hydrogen trucks and their infrastructure in the HUGE partners’ regions Ireland and Iceland were shared, the latter linked with the Nordic Hydrogen Corridor (Next Wave project). The webinar followed up with an overview of the implemented hydrogen trucks project in Switzerland, with emphasis on the challenges and opportunities, as well as the level of involvement of the Swiss government.
