BMW has initiated testing for the new BMW iX5 Hydrogen, a model built on the fifth-generation X5 platform. The vehicle is scheduled to enter the market in 2028, following the release of other X5 powertrain variants in 2027. The company previously operated a test fleet of 100 hydrogen-powered vehicles based on the fourth-generation X5.
The development of the hydrogen fuel cell system is supported by €273 million in funding from the German government and the Free State of Bavaria through the HyPowerDrive project. This initiative covers both the development and industrialization of the powertrain technology for passenger vehicles.
Current testing takes place at the BMW facility in Aschheim. Simultaneously, the company is developing a third-generation fuel cell system at its Hydrogen Competence Centre in Munich. Preparations for series production are ongoing at the engine plant in Steyr, Austria, while pre-series production of the Energy Master control unit has started in Landshut.
The manufacturer aims for the BMW iX5 Hydrogen to achieve acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in under five seconds. The vehicle is designed to offer a range of 750 km. These performance targets are intended to align with the characteristics of the fully electric version of the X5.
