New BMW iX5 Hydrogen fuel cell prototype car review
BMW iX5 Hydrogen is a zero-emissions car that runs on liquid hydrogen using technology that will feature on future models. Here's everything you need to know, including what it's like to drive...
On sale 2028 (est) | Price from £70,000 (est)
One can have a dream, but two can make the dream so real… as the Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston classic says, it takes two. And as the iX5 Hydrogen shows, that’s something BMW has taken on board in its ambition for a zero-emissions future.
Instead of only offering buyers electric cars in the coming years, it will also build hydrogen-powered versions of many models. The idea is to give a green alternative to those who can’t fit their life around a battery electric vehicle (BEV) that requires plugging in.
The most obvious advantage of hydrogen is that refuelling takes two or three minutes, rather than the half an hour needed at the fastest public charging stations for a BEV. It's also a good option because the only thing that comes out of the car’s exhaust is water.
The first car to properly showcase the tech is the iX5 Hydrogen prototype. As the name suggests, it’s an electric version of the BMW X5 that’s powered by hydrogen rather than a large battery pack.
The iX5 Hydrogen is based on the current X5 luxury SUV but it’s fitted with a revised version of the electric motor from the larger BMW iX electric car, a small battery pack and a fuel cell system that turns liquid hydrogen into electricity.
The car we’ve driven has been in development for four years, and is one of a 100-strong pilot fleet being used around the world to showcase the latest advances in hydrogen-powered technology. Feedback from drivers will be gathered and used in developing future production models.
What’s the iX5 Hydrogen like to drive?
Power comes from a fuel cell system that generates a continuous output of 125kW, which is stored in a 170kW lithium-ion battery pack. That's enough for a range of 313 miles. The battery pack is just 10% the size of a battery electric SUV's, which helps keep weight down. In fact, at 2495kg, the iX5 Hydrogen is around the same weight as the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) X5 and this helps retain its agile handling.
There’s minimal bodyroll and the steering is quick to respond and well-weighted, just like other X5s. The iX5 Hydrogen is also impressively smooth to drive, and shields its occupants well from road and wind noise. Even though the tyres are fairly low-profile and wide at 22-inches, they don’t hamper comfort and don’t transmit much disruption from potholes and uneven surfaces through to occupants.
An electric motor that’s based on the unit in the iX is situated on the rear axle, producing 396bhp. The iX5 gets up to speed swiftly with a pleasant artificial whooshing noise borrowed from the iX that gives it a bit of a spaceship vibe. Although official data on the car is sparse as it’s a development model, BMW says it will do 0-62mph in less than 6.0sec and go on to 112mph. Although that's not quite as fast as the X5 xDrive50e plug-in hybrid, which does 0-62mph in 4.8sec, it’s similar to the xDrive30d diesel, and it feels powerful enough to keep pace with rival luxury SUVs.
The iX5 Hydrogen has the same automatic transmission as the standard X5 and drivers get the same choice of Sport, Normal and Eco driving modes, accessed via a button next to the gearlever. There is also a strong regenerative braking B mode that slows you down quickly enough by just lifting your foot off the accelerator. Unlike some systems that apply the brakes harshly to recover energy, this system is fairly subtle and easy to manage.
One difference from current X5s is that the steering wheel paddles that usually let you toggle through the gears have been changed so they increase and decrease the amount of regenerative braking.
What’s it like inside?
On the inside, the controls and trim are the same as you’d find in a high-spec X5. That means there’s a 12.3in digital dash display and an infotainment touchscreen of the same size with logically laid-out switches below it. Our car also had a head-up display that projected useful information on to the windscreen, including speed limits and sat-nav directions.
The driver’s seat has plenty of electrical adjustment and gives an imposing view of the road, while all-round parking sensors and a reversing camera help take the strain out of parking.
Unlike previous hydrogen models that had large fuel tanks in the rear, the iX5’s boot capacity isn’t compromised by its fuel tank. The compressed hydrogen is stored in two carbon-fibre tanks with a total capacity of 6kg. One is in the space where the transmission tunnel would be and the other is under the rear seats. According to BMW the iX5’s boot is the same size as that of the xDrive50e PHEV.
Verdict
Without any major compromises in driving dynamics or interior space to provide zero-emission driving, the iX5 Hydrogen is a convincing proposition. It’s good to drive and has a decent range on a tank of Hydrogen, which is also quick and easy to refuel.
The only major drawback at present is the lack of places to full up its tanks. At present, there are only 15 hydrogen filling stations in the UK, but BMW believes the network will increase over the next few years. If and when this issue is resolved, the a hydrogen-fuelled car will be a more viable alternative to pure electric models.
We expect BMW to start introducing hydrogen vehicles in the UK from 2028. There is no official word yet on which model will arrive first.
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BMW iX5 Hydrogen
Price £75,000 (est) Motor 125kW Power 396bhp Torque tbc 0-62mph less than 6.0sec Top speed 112mph Range 313 miles CO2, tax band £0
