The electric vehicle companies’ goal is to make them the dominant player by 2030, but it appears that hydrogen engines also want a cut of the market share. Hydrogen cars are similar to EVs but they have an electrochemical device known as a hydrogen fuel cell that emits only water vapor, which is a huge advantage in the competition for the most sustainable vehicle.

To date, around 2.5 million EVs have been sold in the United States. Meanwhile, as of mid-2022, roughly about 15,000 hydrogen cars were on U.S. roadways, and all of them are located in California.

BMW aims to deliver hydrogen cars as soon as 2025

The future of mobility will prioritize performance, rapid refueling times, and environment-friendly solutions. In line with these trends, hydrogen engines might be the next big thing to enter the automobile market. There are only a few selective manufacturers that are already working on this new technology to be ahead of the hydrogen vehicles, and BMW is one of them. As BMW CEO Oliver Zipse announced hydrogen engines will play an important role in many regions of the world in the long run. 

A hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle (HFCV) uses a motor that is similar to that found in a battery-electric vehicle. However, instead of being powered by a heavy battery, it runs on a stack of fuel cells where hydrogen (H2) mixes with oxygen (O2) from the surrounding air to produce water vapor and therefore electricity. In other words, fuel-cell vehicles are technically a series of hybrids commonly known as fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicles (FCHEV).

Although hydrogen is the most common element in the universe it’s never found in its pure state, since is generally combined with other elements. As a consequence, creating pure hydrogen for vehicles requires a great deal of energy process to break the compound, which is derived from fossil fuels like natural gas.

HFCVs are similar to EVs but with specific differences that make hydrogen vehicles a unique green offer. Hydrogen engines can be refueled just as fast as their counterparts, and they don’t lose driving range with temperature variations. 

BMW iX5 Hydrogen

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen is one of three hydrogen-backed vehicles coming to BMW dealerships in 2024. The sustainable SUV concept aims to usher in a new era of electric mobility and do so with overachieving performance in mind. For companies, cities, and countries to meet their net-zero carbon emission timelines over the next few decades, a range of renewable energy sources is needed to fulfill the high demand for electrification. Hydrogen plays a key role in that future.

Some of the BMW iX4 hydrogen strengths are:

• 400+ Horses ready to run on the road. Besides its tiny refueling count, the BMW iX5 will combine fifth-generation fuel cell technology with an electric motor, or BMW’s eDrive. 
• The newest eco-innovation from BMW with great performance. Its top speed is 115 miles per hour, and it can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just six seconds. The 400-volt battery situated directly above hydrogen engines increases the iX5’s power. 
• A range of 313 miles similar to current EVs. With a range of about 313 miles, the hydrogen vehicle is comparable to some of the best EVs on the market, such as the Tesla Model Y with 330 miles. 

Despite the number of electric cars on the road has been increasing dramatically over the last three years. The International Energy Agency estimates that by 2022, only 14% of cars will be electric, and by the end of 2023 is expected to rise another 4%. 

This is a great opportunity for hydrogen cars to get a portion of the automobile market, which is still dominated by high-emissions vehicles. Hydrogen engine manufacturers should keep in mind that no single solution will meet every customer’s mobility need globally, therefore several alternative driving systems could coexist in the future.