BMW continues to subject the iX5 Hydrogen to rigorous testing, so that it is completely safe and functional when it is launched on the market. The latest thing that is shown is that there is no risk if you leave the car under the harsh sun of the desert, because the test units of this model work without any kind of incident .
In the past, they have subjected the iX5 Hydrogen to all kinds of tests in icy climates, with more than satisfactory results. They have now completed an intensive round of testing in hot climates for the first time, starting with the United Arab Emirates. The vehicle’s fuel cell propulsion system performs perfectly in temperatures up to 45°C, as well as in sandy and dusty conditions, various slopes and significant fluctuations in humidity.
The two fuel cell systems, the two hydrogen tanks, the electric motor and the power battery, show good performance at high temperatures. So much to guarantee the driving dynamics that BMW is known for, even in the middle of the desert.
But this is not the only context in which the Bavarian company tests the reliability of the future hydrogen model. The pilot fleet of the iX5 Hydrogen is currently touring various locations in Europe, Japan, Korea, China, the USA and the Middle East. The goal of this deployment is to show that hydrogen can be a useful technology for everyday use, to gain important knowledge for the development of a possible series model, and to develop a refueling infrastructure. which can be used in 700 bar technology. in all vehicle categories, from passenger cars and small vans to buses and heavy commercial vehicles. Synergies between different application areas also offer significant possibilities to develop a strong network of hydrogen technology suppliers and reduce costs.
Hydrogen is the perfect solution
As we saw precisely in an exclusive test of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, hydrogen can be the perfect solution to sustainable mobility, because it combines the best of electric cars and combustion: it does not emit pollution that gases, it makes no noise. and it is powerful, at the same time it is refueled almost as quickly and easily as a gasoline car, so the autonomy is very extensive.
The BMW iX5 Hydrogen combines a 170 hp fuel cell system with a fifth-generation eDrive engine (the electric motor, transmission and power electronics are grouped in a compact housing), to provide a total power of 401 hp. The two 700 bar tanks made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) can store about six kilograms of hydrogen, with which this vehicle can travel more than 500 kilometers in the WLTP cycle.
