BMW will unveil a drive module prototype which will preview a possible hydrogen fuel cell vehicle at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show.
While pure battery-based electric vehicles specialize in covering mobility needs in urban metropolitan surroundings, hydrogen fuel cell drive systems offer electric mobility with a high operating range and very short refuelling times.
This explains why hydrogen fuel cell technology is an integral long-term component of the BMW Group’s EfficientDynamics strategy.
In order to take into account the particular requirements of this technology in cars and to utilize its potential as fully as possible, BMW is replicating its approach with its series-produced BMW i3 and BMW i8 models by focusing on a specific vehicle architecture for a future fuel cell electric vehicle.
The fuel cell unit of the drive module includes the first fruits of the company’s cooperation with Toyota, the industry’s leading manufacturer of fuel cell technology.
This builds on Toyota’s 2015 series production technology, which BMW and Toyota were able to adapt to suit the specific requirements of BMW.