Game-changing tech greenlit for BMW

Hot off the back of the BMW iX3 reveal, the German carmaker is expected to reveal a new 3 Series sedan and then a new X5 large SUV.

BMW has now confirmed the latter will be offered with five different power options – petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, electric and hydrogen fuel-cell.

Read More About BMW X Models

• Better than a battery electric vehicle? Meet the 2025 BMW iX5 Hydrogen - the zero emissions SUV for towing and long-distance driving that could one day replace petrol and diesel models like the Toyota Prado and Land Rover Defender
• Why hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will make decarbonising more affordable and sustainable than electric cars alone: BMW says hydrogen must be part of its model mix
• An alternative to electric cars: Can hydrogen power really save the internal combustion engine? | Opinion

It’ll be the brand’s first series-produced hydrogen-powered model following a pilot fleet and various hydrogen prototypes over the years.

BMW plans to introduce the iX5 Hydrogen to promote the development of hydrogen infrastructure and refuelling stations. It’s currently aiming for an initial pilot implementation in Germany.

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen’s third-generation fuel cell system has been developed in collaboration with Toyota.

No further details have been confirmed but BMW is already building the first prototypes at its Competence Centre in Munich, Germany, as well as at the BMW Group plant in Steyr, Austria.

The current BMW iX5 Hydrogen, which did a tour throughout Australia in 2024 is powered by a single electric motor produces 295kW and has 6.0kg of compressed hydrogen which allows for a total range of 504km, according to WLTP testing.

It’s unclear whether there will be further advancements in this technology before the new iX5 Hydrogen begins series production in 2028.

Many carmakers have abandoned hydrogen as a viable powertrain technology for vehicles, though BMW has persisted.

Some other brands that are still investing in hydrogen include Hyundai and Toyota. Both of these brands already offer production hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.

The Hyundai Nexo and Toyota Mirai are technically already offered in Australia but only to select fleets for lease. They aren’t available for private purchase.

Locally there are only a handful of publicly available hydrogen refuelling stations, however, Toyota Australia Vice President of sales and marketing, Sean Hanley, told CarsGuide that hydrogen will eventually overtake diesel.

“So I think over time diesel is not going to go anytime [in] the next decade, but I think beyond that, … hydrogen will take over diesel eventually,” said Hanley.

In addition to Toyota developing hydrogen fuel cell technology, it’s also exploring hydrogen internal combustion engine technology through a range of prototypes and concepts.