BMW Spots An Opportunity For Fuel Cell Vehicles

BMW has reaffirmed its commitment to hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), signaling plans to move toward series production despite challenges faced by the technology in the zero-emission mobility market. While battery electric vehicles (BEVs) currently dominate due to advantages in cost, fuel availability, and convenience, fuel cells still offer benefits in range and refueling time. BMW’s approach contrasts with companies like Stellantis, which recently discontinued its fuel cell development for light-duty commercial vehicles, citing limited hydrogen infrastructure, high costs, and weak consumer incentives. Stellantis, however, has not abandoned hydrogen entirely and may revisit the technology in the 2030s. BMW’s fuel cell efforts date back to a 2014 prototype and a 2023 limited iX5 demonstration fleet developed with Toyota’s fuel cell technology. The latest development is a third-generation fuel cell platform co-developed with Toyota, designed for both commercial and passenger vehicles. This new system is 25% more compact due to increased power density,