BMW’s Next-Gen iX5 Hydrogen SUV Promises To Boost Range

BMW’s next-generation iX5 hydrogen-powered SUV will get a new fuel storage system.
The flat tank design allows for a higher capacity, resulting in more range.
The new tank doesn’t affect interior space either, BMW claims.

Hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles, or FCEVs, haven’t really taken off, despite their promise of offering plenty of range, short refueling stops, and zero emissions. That said, BMW is still investing in the technology, with the next iX5 hydrogen-powered SUV boasting several improvements over the current generation.

The German automaker has developed a new fuel storage system, dubbed Hydrogen Flat Storage, which doesn’t protrude into the interior space and can store more fuel, leading to more driving range.

Source: BMW

The new tank has seven carbon-fibre reinforced chambers that are connected, making for a single unit. It can store at least 7 kilograms of hydrogen, up from the 6 kg that the current-gen iX5 Hydrogen can store in its bulky tanks. According to BMW, refueling takes less than five minutes, with a full tank delivering an estimated 385 miles (750 km) of range–up from the current model’s 300 miles (482 km).

The seven individual cylinders are rated to 700 bar and sit in a metal enclosure that’s the same size as the 800-volt Gen6 batteries that will power the upcoming iX5 all-electric SUV. This enables BMW to build several types of X5 models on the same assembly line, cutting costs.

As a reminder, the next-generation BMW X5, codenamed G65, will be available in five powertrain configurations. Based on the same CLAR architecture as the outgoing model, the new X5 will borrow some tech from the Neue Klasse platform, like batteries and motors, to power the all-electric iX5. However, the big SUV will also be available with gasoline, diesel, and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

Dubbed Gen 3, the fuel cell in the new iX5 Hydrogen is being co-developed with Toyota, with the first finished cars scheduled to roll off the assembly line in 2028. According to BMW, the latest generation of its fuel cell system is more efficient and more powerful than what’s available on the current iX5, which has been sold in limited numbers for pilot fleets in Europe and California.