BMW to launch first hydrogen fuel cell car in 2028 as Toyota partnership expands

BMW said it plans to launch its first series production car with a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain in 2028 as part of an expanded partnership with Toyota.

The two companies will develop a "next generation" fuel cell drivetrain for use in passenger cars and commercial vehicles, BMW said Sept. 5, and will work to reinforce the hydrogen infrastructure, which has been a limiting factor in the growth of the technology.

BMW has been testing prototypes of the iX5 crossover with a fuel cell drivetrain for several years. Toyota provides the fuel cell "stack" for the iX5.

BMW and Toyota have been leaders in fuel cell technology, which proponents say offers zero-emission mobility without worries about range, because the refueling time is the same as for a gasoline or diesel car. The refueling infrastructure remains tiny, however, and the electrolysis process to extract hydrogen from water is mostly powered by fossil fuels, which critics say negates the benefits of zero tailpipe emissions.

So-called "green" hydrogen created using renewable or sustainable energy offers a zero-emission alternative, but it has not yet reached significant scale. 

"Hydrogen is the missing piece for completing the electric mobility puzzle where battery electric drive systems are not an optimal solution," BMW said in the release.

Toyota has been selling the second-generation Mirai fuel cell sedan since 2021. The Mirai’s sales through July were 616, many to taxi or mobility services. It sells for more than €70,000.

Hydrogen is also being proposed as a fuel for internal-combustion engines. BMW sold a version of the 7 Series with a V-12 engine powered by hydrogen in 2005-6, and Toyota has recently tested a combustion-engine racing car that runs on hydrogen.

Alpine, Renault Group’s sports and racing brand, is also pursuing the technology, and will display a hydrogen-powered concept vehicle at the Paris auto show in October.

Hydrogen-powered combustion engines would meet the EU’s zero-emission mandate after 2035.

In the near future, the more likely use for fuel-cell drivetrains is in commercial vehicles, which can be refueled at central depots.

Renault and Stellantis currently sell hydrogen-powered commercial vans.

In addition to collaborating on a fuel cell drivetrain, BMW and Toyota said they will work to expand the hydrogen refueling infrastructure and bolster the supply of sustainable hydrogen by increasing the demand for it.