BMW reveals flat hydrogen storage for iX5 Hydrogen

BMW Group has revealed the BMW Hydrogen Flat Storage system for the iX5 Hydrogen, a seven-tank carbon-fibre assembly that extends range to up to 750 km (385 miles, prototype figure) and is compatible with the company’s Gen6 high-voltage battery. The system stores seven kilograms of hydrogen at 700 bar, refuels in under five minutes, and is due in production in 2028.

The flat tank consists of seven carbon-fibre reinforced composite pressure vessels connected in parallel within a metal frame and controlled by a central valve. The geometry allows the iX5 Hydrogen to share a production line with other X5 variants, covering battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, conventional and fuel cell powertrains across five drive configurations.

The iX5 Hydrogen is also equipped with Gen3 fuel cell technology and BMW’s Heart of Joy drivetrain and chassis control software. Development is funded under the HyPowerDrive project, backed by €191m (US$222m) from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport under the IPCEI Hy2Move framework and €82m (US$95m) from the state of Bavaria.

In a statement, Dr Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development, said: “Our new storage concept allows us to fit the hydrogen drive system into the new X5 precisely and in a way that saves space. Think of it as installation Tetris: every customer gets the drive system best suited to their needs and a true BMW X5 with no compromises.”

Source: BMW Group