BMW begins production of key components for the new BMW iX5 hydrogen-powered model

At the German plant in Landshut, BMW has started pre-series production of the central control unit that will be used in the new iX5 Hydrogen, called Energy Master. It is an essential component of the future hydrogen propulsion system of the Bavarian company. BMW plans to start series production of fuel cell hydrogen vehicles from 2028, and the new iX5 Hydrogen will be the model with which this technology will debut.

This new development is part of BMW’s third generation of hydrogen fuel cells. In the first, Toyota supplied the complete system and BMW was responsible for integrating and testing it. In the second generation, used in the current iX5, Toyota only provided the individual fuel cells, while BMW developed the complete system. Now, in this third generation, both companies are collaborating closely on joint development, seeking synergies that will be leveraged for the production of BMW passenger vehicles and Toyota commercial vehicles.

BMW has introduced significant improvements to this technology, such as the new hydrogen storage system BMW Hydrogen Flat Storage. According to the Bavarian company, this technology makes very efficient use of the available space, is compatible with the sixth-generation high-voltage battery and does not reduce the vehicle’s interior space. Thanks to this design, hydrogen models can be manufactured on the same production line as vehicles with other propulsion technologies. BMW estimates that the iX5 Hydrogen will reach a range of up to 750 kilometers.

BMW is one of the few manufacturers seriously committed to hydrogen fuel technology

The Energy Master unit, whose pre-series production has now started, is especially relevant because it intelligently controls the high-voltage battery and works together with the third-generation fuel cell system to deliver safe and predictable dynamic behavior. BMW develops and manufactures this component in its own facilities for the first time. The Landshut plant is well suited for this task due to its deep expertise in electronics and large-scale production.

In parallel, the center is expanding the manufacturing of the control unit used in the electric models of BMW’s Neue Klasse. Series production of these components for the BMW iX3 and i3 has been underway since last year, and with the new production line, capacity will almost double to meet the growing demand for these new-generation vehicles.