BMW Aims For First Mass Hydrogen Car Launch In 2028

BMW iX5 Hydrogen. (Doc. BMW Group)

JAKARTA - BMW Group has officially signed an agreement with Toyota Motor Corporation to strengthen collaboration in the development of hydrogen vehicles.

BMW also has ambitions to market its first hydrogen-powered vehicle in 2028, using fuel cell technology developed with Toyota. This was stated by the German car manufacturer on Thursday, reported by Reuters, September 6.

BMW said the vehicle would be an existing model with the option of driving hydrogen fuel cells, without providing further details. Details of the price or volume of production have not been announced.

BMW CEO Oliver Zipse said in a statement that the vehicle would "increase how technological advances shape future mobility."

Their partnership with Toyota will allow the two groups to reduce costs and develop passenger car drivers whose technology will also have applications for commercial vehicles.

BMW has so far been the strongest supporter of hydrogen technology among German automakers, and has tested a hydrogenated passenger vehicle, iX5 Hydrogen, with a range of 500 km (310 miles) and refueling capability in three to four minutes.

The group is developing a prototype of fuel cell vehicles along with batteries to anticipate which "green" technology will dominate.

Hydrogen-powered vehicles can refuel quickly and have a wide range, but few automakers invest in this technology due to high costs and limited charging station networks.

BMW menyatakan mereka merasa infrastruktur pengisian hydrogen akan berkembang secara signifikan pada tahun 2028 untuk memodasi rencana mereka.