BMW Unveils iX5 Hydrogen Tech: 750-km Range, Refuels in Under 5 Minutes

BMW has unveiled technical details of the iX5 Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Under WLTP conditions, the car achieves a maximum range of up to 750 kilometers (approximately 385 miles under EPA standards), with refueling taking less than five minutes. The extended range is enabled by an all-new flat hydrogen storage system comprising seven interconnected high-pressure hydrogen tanks made from carbon fiber-reinforced composite materials. These tanks are arranged side-by-side between two metal plates, forming a sealed unit capable of storing at least 7 kilograms of hydrogen. This hydrogen storage system occupies roughly the same space as BMW’s sixth-generation high-voltage battery, allowing hydrogen fuel cell, fully electric, and other powertrain variants to be produced on the same assembly line. The iX5 Hydrogen will also feature BMW’s third-generation fuel cell system, an innovative high-voltage battery, and Neue Klasse (New Class) technologies, including the “Heart of Joy” powertrain and chassis control software. Production of the model is scheduled to begin in 2028, at which point it will become one of five powertrain options for the X5 lineup, alongside fully electric, plug-in hybrid, diesel, and gasoline variants.