On September 5, BMW and Toyota officially announced their collaboration in the field of hydrogen fuel cells, which is not only considered a "strong alliance" by the industry, but also a heavyweight cooperation based on the future of the global new energy automobile industry.

"Relying solely on pure electric technology is like standing on one leg and cannot be sustained for a long time. We need a 'second leg'. Hydrogen fuel cell technology and pure electric technology are perfectly complementary." Michael Rath, Vice President of BMW Group's Hydrogen Energy Battery Vehicles, explained why BMW is making every effort to develop hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

On September 5, BMW, which has been deeply involved in the research and development of hydrogen energy power systems for more than 40 years, announced its official collaboration with Toyota. The first mass-produced vehicle equipped with the hydrogen fuel cell system developed jointly by the two parties is planned for 2028. According to Michael Rath, the first step of the cooperation between the two parties focuses on the research and development of hydrogen fuel cells, while the hydrogen tanks are independently developed by BMW, and the two parties will promote the upgrading of next-generation related technologies. "In terms of system design, each party develops their own vehicles and applies the jointly developed hydrogen fuel cell to their respective models. Currently, there is no plan to jointly develop hydrogen fuel cell vehicles." In Michael Rath's view, BMW and Toyota have cooperated many times over the past 10 years, and this collaboration is a deepening of the previous cooperation.

In October last year, BMW Group's first batch of hydrogen fuel cell vehicle iX5 hydrogen fuel cell vehicle made its debut on domestic roads for the first time. The driving system of the iX5 hydrogen fuel cell vehicle integrates hydrogen fuel cell technology and the 5th generation BMW eDrive electric drive technology, consisting of two hydrogen storage tanks, a fuel cell, and an electric motor. The hydrogen necessary for the fuel cell is stored in two 700-bar pressure tanks made of carbon fiber reinforced composite material, which can hold nearly 6 kilograms of hydrogen. Based on this system, the iX5 hydrogen fuel cell vehicle can achieve a maximum range of 504 kilometers under the WLTP test cycle, and the hydrogen storage tanks can be fully filled in just 3-4 minutes.

In the domestic market, the enthusiasm for the hydrogen energy industry has recently continued to rise. In terms of news, the Shaanxi Provincial Development and Reform Commission and the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Transportation jointly issued a notice supporting the construction of hydrogen refueling stations on expressways and the reduction of toll fees for hydrogen-powered vehicles. Shaanxi is the fourth province to announce a reduction in toll fees for expressways, following Shandong, Sichuan, and Jilin, and the only province that offers a three-year toll fee reduction. The Henan Provincial Government held a meeting to promote economic operation and emphasized the need to set goals and break through. Grasp the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, and actively develop industries such as artificial intelligence, bio-manufacturing, hydrogen energy storage, new materials, and new energy vehicles.

"We have been maintaining close cooperation with local Chinese companies and local governments, and we have begun preparations for related work with local governments. We will share the latest progress in the near future." An insider from BMW told the reporters of Cailian Press.

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are favored by the automotive industry, local governments, and companies such as BMW, Toyota, and Hyundai. However, many problems that currently exist cannot be ignored.

Jürgen Guldner, Head of BMW Group's Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology and Automotive Project, told reporters that infrastructure, scalability, and high costs are still obstacles to the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. "Why did BMW cooperate with Toyota on related technologies? It's because the two car manufacturers can share some of the R&D costs, making the entire investment project more efficient. We will also take other measures to improve economies of scale and ultimately ensure that our investments have sufficient returns and achieve a reasonable scale in terms of economics after mass production." Jürgen Guldner said.