All-new BMW X5 to be available with hydrogen fuel cell co-developed with Toyota

BMW may now be known for its EVs, plug-in hybrids, and mild-hybrid powertrains when it comes to electrified mobility. But the German automaker is also known for having hydrogen-based powertrains in the mix.

Apart from Toyota and Honda, BMW has also pioneered in hydrogen technology for vehicles. In fact, a prototype version of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen that was revealed three years ago can generate up to 374 PS. The automaker even made an armored version of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen back in 2021.

Now, BMW has revealed the first (camouflaged) images of the next-generation X5, and it will be available with five powertrain options. This is not the first time we've seen the all-new X5, as our spies managed to take pictures of a camouflaged prototype being tested a few months ago. Back to the matter at hand, the all-new BMW X5 will be powered by a new hydrogen fuel cell technology and will also be offered with electric (EV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), diesel, and gasoline powertrains.

“By launching the new BMW X5 with a choice of five drive system variants, we are once again demonstrating our leading position as a technology pioneer. Hydrogen has an essential part to play in global decarbonization, which is why we are committed to driving the technology forward,” said Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development.

While the automaker has yet to elaborate about the X5's other powertrains, BMW did share more about the new iX5 Hydrogen. BMW says they have successfully finished testing the pilot fleet worldwide and will serve as the brand's first-ever series-produced hydrogen-powered model. It will be powered by BMW's third-generation fuel cell system, which is being developed in collaboration with Toyota.

Thanks to the combined efforts of BMW and Toyota, the brand's new hydrogen fuel cell system will be more compact and is set to be more powerful and efficient. BMW also said the system will allow for more range and output, while also reducing energy consumption.

Besides having a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain, BMW is also working on strengthening the hydrogen infrastructure. BMW is actively involved in efforts to expand the hydrogen refueling network called HyMoS (Hydrogen Mobility at Scale). It was initially established to support hydrogen ecosystems for mobility in cooperation with industry and institutional partners. Its ultimate goal is to increase the economic viability of hydrogen mobility solutions for all types of vehicles, including trucks, buses, and passenger cars.

HyMoS will help reach an optimal distribution and usage of hydrogen stations, as well as support existing hydrogen ecosystem projects in achieving their full potential. A pilot phase has already started with the support of existing ecosystems in Germany and France to gather experiences for deployment to further metropolitan areas and a potential later expansion to other countries.

With the all-new BMW X5 set to offer the latest iX5 Hydrogen, we're curious about the figures and performance of the hydrogen fuel cell system co-developed with Toyota, as well as BMW's ambitious plans to make hydrogen refueling more economically viable in the future.