BMW Begins Fuel Cell Production
The Fuel Cell is a Real Solution for Electricity Starved Anti-Gas Car California
Only a week ago, California banned sales of internal combustion engine cars beyond 2035. Barely a day later, the same California’s power grid operator suggested that citizens should avoid charging their electric vehicles.
Because, and we quote: ‘the power grid is under strain due to high demand and extreme temperatures.’ Join the dots and it’s obvious that Houston… er, make that California, we have a problem!
California, We Have a Problem!
To be fair, the state’s gas car ban clearly promotes ‘zero emissions’ car sales on a whole, not just EVs. Just about every ‘zero’ emissions car out there right now however happens to be an electric vehicle. Which California, ahem, is already clearly barely managing to charge. Leaving considerable doubts about the state’s ability to charge the volumes of EVs it must incrementally do by 2035. See the conundrum? So do we.
It seems that the car industry can see this picture as clearly as we do. BMW has already tossed its hat into the real zero emissions ring to make a difference. The Bavarian automaker Wednesday confirmed that it will soon commence in-house fuel cell production for use in its upcoming BMW iX5 Hydrogen.
Fuel Cells Use ‘Versatile’ Hydrogen
Four Cylinder (quaintly enough, that’s what they call BMW’s so-inspired downtown Munich HQ) suits also confirmed that it will soon start testing a small fleet of prototype hydrogen-powered BMW iX5 Hydrogen SUVs. “Hydrogen has a key role to play as a versatile energy source on the road to climate neutrality,” BMW boss Oliver Zipse points out.
“Hydrogen will also gain substantially in importance as a form of personal mobility. “By commencing small-scale production of fuel cells today, we are demonstrating the technical maturity of this type of drive system and underscoring its future potential. “Hydrogen-powered vehicles are ideally placed to fit alongside EVs and complete the battery-electric electric mobility picture.”
Toyota Derived Fuel Cells
BMW will manufacture highly efficient fuel cell systems at its in-house competence centre for hydrogen. BMW acquires individual fuel cells from Toyota. The inspected fuel cells are then compressed into a stack and sealed into a sand cast aluminium frame by a cast plastic and light-alloy pressure plate.
The pressure plate delivers hydrogen and oxygen to the stack. Voltage and fuel cell chemical tests follow, before, the system’s compressor, anode and cathode, the high-voltage coolant pump and wiring harness are fitted. Toyota, by the by, has been selling its own fuel cell Mirai since 2014.
Latest Fuel Cells Half the Weight, Doubly Efficient
“Many years of research and development have enabled us to get the very most out of hydrogen technology,” BMW development chief Frank Weber concludes. “We have more than doubled continuous output in the BMW iX5 Hydrogen’s second-generation fuel cell while also drastically reducing its weight and size.”
BMW is already developing a next generation fuel cell vehicle platform to underpin all form of future hydrogen powered zero emissions cars and SUVs. The company’s immediate fuel cell focus however remains on first sales of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen.
Photos: BMW