BMW is weighing to begin serial manufacturing of hydrogen fashions within the second half of this decade, however any gross sales push is smart solely as soon as sufficient infrastructure turns into out there, mentioned Frank Weber, the automaker’s know-how chief.
Just 750 hydrogen refueling stations had been in operation globally final yr, in keeping with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researcher.
Getting the hydrogen-powered iX5 in entrance of the general public is a technique of highlighting the know-how’s sturdy factors, BMW mentioned.
Filling up the iX5 with hydrogen takes solely 4 minutes, in contrast with about half-hour for charging essentially the most superior battery powered autos.
BMW expects the adoption of hydrogen long-haul vehicles to hurry up installations of refueling stations, in a boon additionally to passenger automobiles. The firm hopes that the price of gasoline cell elements comes down as soon as hydrogen rigs are produced at scale.
“We are confident that at the end of the decade, prices for an electric vehicle with a larger battery and fuel cell cars will be on par,” Weber mentioned.
Still, BMW’s small take a look at fleet suggests the German firm just isn’t anticipating larger-scale adoption anytime quickly. It’s additionally protecting the autos on a good leash: except for company-organized take a look at drives, the automobiles is not going to be handed out to drivers for on a regular basis use.
“Fuel cell cars are always going to be more expensive than battery powered ones,” mentioned BNEF analyst Martin Tengler.
“Maybe BMW is targeting a niche segment, there might some money to be made. But the big picture is that it’s best to leave hydrogen cars where they have always been — just around the corner.”
Source: www.autonews.com