A maiden voyage for BMW in South Africa, hydrogen power looks set to be a defining future powertrain option. Alex Shahini got behind the wheel of the left-hand drive, German number plate-bearing iX5 prototype in Johannesburg.
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Collaborating with the Hydrogen Council’s Johannesburg and Sandton-based event earlier in the week, BMW shipped several iX5 Hydrogen prototypes to be used as a proof of concept in collaboration with Sasol and Anglo American. These first units represent a local leap for the new energy vehicle ahead of promising plans for infrastructure to be developed.
BMW iX5 Fast Facts
- Price: Prototype (not for sale)
- Engine: electric-motor
- Transmission: N/A
- Power: 295 kW (total output)
- Torque: 720 N.m
- Top Speed: 185 km/h
- 0 – 100 km/h (claimed): <6 seconds
What are we driving?
In the several years that zero-emissions electric vehicles have existed in the local market, naysayers have been critical of dependence on the national grid which is already constrained as well as rare earth materials for construction. This BMW iX5 follows the same zero-emissions principle as well as some carry-over components from its EV, but now with a dependency on the most abundant element in the universe; hydrogen. To this extent, this is a checkmate for the now antiquated argument against zero-emission, electric mobility.
Why is the BMW iX5 Hydrogen FCEV significant?
BMW may have tinkered with hydrogen combustion engines in the past but the iX5 will be its first production hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) ever. Unlike a tour at the turn of the century which saw several hydrogen-powered cars moving around the city streets of Berlin during the EXPO 2000 event, the German automaker has great ambition that the FCEV will live to see full series production. Constrained by several factors in the past, BMW knows the key to the success of hydrogen lies in partnerships with key players to aid in infrastructure and generation. The vision for this is that heavy industries, for which hydrogen propulsion is better suited, will take the lead, one which the end consumer can piggyback off of.
Related: Hydrogen-Powered BMW iX5 Fleet to Reach Local Shores in Early 2024
With an already extensive electrified range and a road map that plans several years into the future to continue series production, General Program Manager of Hydrogen Technology at BMW Dr. Jürgen Guldner reminded attendees of the presentation that just like diesel, petrol and electric powertrains, hydrogen can exist in unison as a solution for specific customer needs.
What’s new on the BMW iX5 Hydrogen FCEV?
At the moment, the iX5 Hydrogen FCEV, aside from the obvious decals, left-hand oriented steering wheel, German number plate and subtle blue exterior and interior details, is largely unchanged from a typical X5 you would be able to walk into a BMW showroom right now and purchase.
As the “i” prefix may insinuate and the Hydrogen FCEV suffix certainly will, the majority of changes imparted onto this zero-emissions SUV exist underneath the familiar bodywork. Replacing the conventional powertrain is however a front-mounted fuel cell system which sits in the engine bay and is capable of generating 125 kW, while hydrogen tanks lie longitudinally in what was previously the transmission tunnel and transversely underneath the rear bench yielding a total capacity able of holding 6 kg.
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On the rear axle is the electric motor borrowed from the iX, capable of delivering a total of 295 kW to the ground – the power deficit made up of a 170 kW power battery that sits atop but doesn’t compromise boot space significantly.
In terms of signifiers, the “i” badge is mounted on the kidney grille which has blue outlining its silhouette, while blue details curtail the lower extremities of the front and rear bumpers and diffuser fins sit on the flanks of the rear bumper in place of where the ICE powered model’s exhaust tips used to lie. The interior remains the same, save for blue details in the centre console.
What is the BMW iX5 Hydrogen FCEV like to drive?
Considering the powertrain is electric and only uses hydrogen for propulsion, the entire driving experience is nearly identical to that of an electrified vehicle however the hydrogen-outfitted model is a few hundred kilograms lighter than its EV alternative and more comparable to its ICE counterpart. This means that the rear-wheel drive model is more spritely courtesy of the instant torque, with body roll kept to a minimum. The 22-inch rims sporting a unique design on the other hand are not the best suited for the rutted and potholed roads, even in the bustling area surrounding the metropolitan Mall of Africa.
Related: Could Hydrogen Fuel Realistically Become a thing in SA?
Being pre production prototypes, it would be difficult to fault the fit and finish in the short stint we had them for. Despite this, a full team was on site to ensure any hiccups in operation which included a refuelling procedure courtesy of Air Products. While this may be the less glamorous part of driving a vehicle, it is part and parcel of the experience and while the procedure of placing the nozzle within the fuel filler cavity is as easy as before, full refuelling times can be as little as 6 minutes. Important to note however that this is dependent on external conditions like humidity and temperature and the Air Products installation communicates with the vehicle to ensure that volatile hydrogen is transferred in the safest of conditions.
What are the BMW iX5 Hydrogen FCEV’s rivals?
Driving back to the xDrive Park adjacent to the Mall of Africa, I spotted an EV silently trundling down the road in the opposite direction to us which alludes to the growing popularity of these models, even in electricity-constrained South Africa. This NEV market will be where FCEV cars including the iX5 and Toyota Mirai (of which both brands share a nearly identical powertrain) will play in.
For that reason, prospective buyers in this premium SUV segment will also likely have browsed through the catalogues of the BMW iX, Audi Q8 e-tron, Jaguar I-Pace or Mercedes-Benz EQS before considering the hydrogen alternative. As mentioned before, this is hypothetical, since infrastructure is yet to make hydrogen a viable choice and the iX5 is still not in production.
What does the BMW iX5 Hydrogen FCEV cost?
For the time being, FCEV is still in its infancy and this iX5 prototype has no pricetag nor is it homologated to be sold in South Africa. Should a production iteration ever make its way to our shores, it will likely be taxed slightly higher than standard powertrains, unless the government ratifies a new gazette which reduces the prohibitive fees of NEVs and EVs.
Verdict
The technology exists and operates as superlatively as we have come to expect from an EV. The future boasts some exciting prospects, globally and locally but the technology concealed within the iX5 will only be a viable solution if all stakeholders are willing and able to bring the infrastructure to the people of South Africa. For mass adoption of zero-emissions vehicles locally, hydrogen FCEVs will be the answer.
