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BMW to launch hydrogen-powered electric car for sale in 2028

BMW iX5 Hydrogen
BMW's iX5 Hydrogen has a range of 310 miles and can refuel in three to four minutes - Tom Kirkpatrick/BMW AG

BMW is to start selling its first hydrogen-powered cars in four years as the company races to create an alternative to battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs).

The German carmaker hailed a “milestone in automotive history” as it announced that its first fuel-cell vehicles would go on sale in 2028.

The cars will use technology developed by Toyota – the world’s largest carmaker – with a hydrogen variant of an existing BMW model available that year. No details of the price or the scale of production were announced.

Oliver Zipse, BMW’s chairman, said: “Powered by hydrogen and driven by the spirit of our cooperation, it will underscore how technological progress is shaping future mobility.

“And it will herald an era of significant demand for fuel-cell electric vehicles.”

BMW has bet big on hydrogen as an alternative to battery-powered EVs and intends to market its models to customers who do not have the ability to charge at home, such as those without a garage or driveway.

BMW says hydrogen could appeal to drivers who require high-flexibility or travel frequently, for whom fast charging is too time-consuming. It could also appeal to buyers in cold climates, which are not conducive to long battery life. But the models will need access to new hydrogen fuelling stations for uptake to become widespread.

BMW has been testing its iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet worldwide since 2023 while Toyota and Renault-owned Alpine have debuted hydrogen-powered racing cars in recent years. The iX5 Hydrogen has a range of 310 miles and an ability to refuel in three to four minutes.

Alpine Alpenglow Hy4
Hydrogen-powered motors, such as the Alpine Alpenglow Hy4, have been showcased in motorsports - Alpine

Global sales of hydrogen cars declined to just 9,000 units last year, according to BloombergNEF.

A fuel-cell vehicle uses an electric motor similarly to an EV but draws power from a fuel stack where hydrogen is separated by a catalyst to produce electricity.

Hydrogen-powered vehicles can refuel quickly and have a long range but few carmakers have invested in the technology because of its high costs and the limited network of fuelling stations.

Koji Sato, the president of Toyota, said: “We are pleased that the collaboration between BMW and Toyota has entered a new stage.

“In our long history of partnership, we have confirmed that BMW and Toyota share the same passion for cars and belief in technology openness and a multi-pathway approach to carbon neutrality.”

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