BMW and Toyota Jointly Pave the Way for Hydrogen-Powered Cars
Key Ideas
- BMW aims to mass produce its first hydrogen-powered car in 2028, in collaboration with Toyota, to drive down costs and introduce next-generation fuel cell technology.
- Hydrogen cars are seen as an alternative to combustion engines to meet climate targets, but face challenges like high costs and limited infrastructure.
- European carmakers like BMW are exploring hydrogen projects, while most focus on battery-powered electric vehicles for the passenger car market.
- Despite hurdles, efforts are being made to expand the hydrogen refueling infrastructure globally, with ambitious goals set by the European Commission.
German luxury carmaker BMW announced its plan to mass produce its first hydrogen-powered car by 2028, in partnership with Japan's Toyota. This initiative aims to leverage fuel cell technology to reduce costs and introduce the next generation of hydrogen vehicles. Although hydrogen has been considered an alternative to combustion engines to meet climate goals, challenges such as high costs and infrastructure limitations persist. BMW and Toyota are working together to develop powertrain systems for hydrogen passenger cars, maintaining their distinct brand identities. While BMW's hydrogen model is expected to offer an attractive price point, the industry mostly focuses on electric vehicles. The European Commission targets banning new petrol and diesel car sales by 2035, promoting the creation of a hydrogen charging network. Despite the limited number of hydrogen refueling stations globally, efforts are underway to expand this infrastructure, with China leading in station numbers.