The BMW Group views hydrogen fuel-cell expertise as a possible addition to the drive expertise utilized by battery-electric automobiles.
Its newest instance, the iX5 Hydrogen car and growth mission, is getting into its important subsequent section, after 4 years of growth work.
The fleet of underneath 100 iX5 Hydrogen SUVs will then be employed internationally for demonstration and trial functions for numerous goal teams. This energetic driving expertise will subsequently be the primary likelihood for individuals not concerned within the growth course of to achieve a direct impression of what the BMW iX5 Hydrogen has to supply.
The BMW iX5 Hydrogen developed on the premise of the present BMW X5 was first unveiled as an idea on the IAA present in 2019. Preliminary prototypes have been then made out there on the IAA Mobility 2021 for guests to expertise in motion as shuttle automobiles.
Its hydrogen gasoline cell system is additional proof of the BMW Group’s main growth experience within the discipline of electrical drive applied sciences. The BMW Group is systematically pushing ahead with growth of hydrogen gasoline cell expertise as a further choice for domestically emission-free particular person mobility sooner or later.
The group bought greater than 215,000 absolutely electrical automobiles worldwide in 2022, which represents a rise over the earlier yr of virtually 108 per cent. Totally electrical automobiles accounted for just below 9 per cent of complete gross sales volumes final yr, and this share is ready to extend to fifteen per cent in 2023.
By 2030 on the newest, the BMW Group is seeking to attain a state of affairs the place absolutely electrical automobiles declare a greater than 50 per cent share of its total gross sales.
BMW’s technological experience.The BMW Group produces the extremely environment friendly gasoline cell methods for the pilot fleet at its in-house competence centre for hydrogen in Munich. This expertise is without doubt one of the core parts within the BMW iX5 Hydrogen and generates a excessive steady output of 125 kW/170 hp.
A chemical response takes place within the gasoline cell between gaseous hydrogen from the tanks and oxygen from the air. Sustaining a gradual provide of each parts to the gasoline cell’s membrane is of essential significance for the drive system’s effectivity. Along with the technological equivalents of options discovered on combustion engines, resembling cost air coolers, air filters, management models and sensors, the BMW Group additionally developed particular hydrogen parts for its new gasoline cell system. These embody the high-speed compressor with turbine and high-voltage coolant pump, for example.
The BMW Group sources the person gasoline cells from Toyota. The 2 firms have loved a partnership characterised by belief for a few years and have been collaborating on gasoline cell drive methods since 2013.
Gas cell methods are manufactured in two essential steps, based mostly on the person gasoline cells. The cells are first assembled right into a gasoline cell stack. The following step includes becoming all the opposite parts to supply an entire gasoline cell system.
Stacking of the gasoline cells is essentially a totally automated course of. As soon as the person parts have been inspected for any injury, the stack is compressed by machine with a drive of 5 tonnes and positioned in a housing. The stack housing is manufactured within the gentle steel foundry at BMW Group Plant Landshut utilizing a sand casting approach.
For this, molten aluminium is poured right into a mould comprised of compacted sand blended with resin in a course of specifically designed for this small-series car.
The strain plate, which delivers hydrogen and oxygen to the gasoline cell stack, is comprised of forged plastic components and light-alloy castings, additionally from the Landshut plant. The strain plate types a gas-tight and water-tight seal across the stack housing.
Remaining meeting of the gasoline cell stacks features a voltage take a look at together with in depth testing of the chemical response throughout the cells. Lastly, all of the completely different parts are fitted collectively within the meeting space to supply the entire system.
Throughout this method meeting stage, additional parts are fitted, such because the compressor, the anode and cathode of the fuel-cell system, the high-voltage coolant pump and the wiring harness.
Together with a extremely built-in drive unit utilizing fifth-generation BMW eDrive expertise (the electrical motor, transmission and energy electronics are grouped collectively in a compact housing) on the rear axle and an influence battery with lithium-ion expertise developed specifically for this car, the powertrain channels most output of 295kW / 401 hp onto the highway. In coasting overrun and braking phases, the motor additionally serves as a generator, feeding power again into an influence battery.
Manufacturing at Munich pilot plant.The BMW iX5 Hydrogen is being constructed within the BMW Group’s pilot plant at its Analysis and Innovation Centre (FIZ) in Munich. That is the interface between growth and manufacturing the place each new mannequin from the corporate’s manufacturers is made for the primary time. Round 900 individuals work there within the physique store, meeting, mannequin engineering, idea car development and additive manufacturing.
They’re tasked with guaranteeing that each the product and the manufacturing course of are prepared for sequence manufacturing. Within the case of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, specialists in hydrogen expertise, car growth and preliminary meeting of recent fashions have been working intently collectively to combine the cutting-edge drive and power storage expertise.
Hydrogen permits fast re-fuelling.The hydrogen wanted to provide the gasoline cell is saved in two 700-bar tanks product of carbon-fibre strengthened plastic (CFRP). Collectively these maintain virtually six kilograms of hydrogen, sufficient to offer the BMW iX5 Hydrogen a variety of 504 km (313 miles) within the WLTP cycle. Filling up the hydrogen tanks solely takes three to 4 minutes – so the BMW iX5 Hydrogen may present the driving pleasure for which BMW is famend over lengthy distances, with only a few, quick stops alongside the way in which.
Abstract of the technical information, efficiency, gasoline consumption and vary figures for the BMW iX5 Hydrogen:
– Most output of total drive system: 295 kW/401 hp– Electrical steady output of the fuel-cell system: 125 kW/170 hp– Most output of the battery (lithium-ion expertise): 170 kW/231 hp– Most output of the extremely built-in electrical drive unit: 295 kW/401 hp– Capability of the hydrogen tanks: 6 kg hydrogen (gaseous)– Acceleration 0-100 km/h (62 mph) < 6 s– Prime pace: Over 180 km/h (112 mph)– Hydrogen consumption within the WLTP cycle: 1.19 kg/100 km– Vary within the WLTP cycle: 504 km (313 miles)
Feb 27, 2023