BMW, Toyota Partner on Hydrogen-Powered EVs in Bid to Open Up New Market

By David Sachs

BMW and Toyota will partner to develop hydrogen-fueled electric cars in a push to expand their offering of clean-running vehicles.

The German carmaker said Thursday that it will release hydrogen-powered versions of one of its existing model lines in 2028 as part of its strategy--which Toyota shares--to turn a nascent market into a mass market. BMW and Toyota's hydrogen cars will use powertrains, which contain the engine and transmission, developed in tandem by the companies, according to a joint statement.

Hydrogen-powered cars, known in the industry as fuel-cell electric vehicles, or FCEVs, run on electricity generated from hydrogen when it mixes with oxygen inside a fuel cell--rather inside a battery.

"It is basically electric driving," Michael Rath, BMW's vice president of hydrogen vehicles, told reporters.

With its hydrogen push, BMW is targeting consumers who don't have EV chargers at home, or must drive a lot without having to rely on charging networks, Rath said. Fuelling them is faster than charging traditional electric vehicles, and is more akin to filling up a tank at a gas station, he said, adding that they also have greater towing capability and are less affected by temperature.

BMW stressed that it doesn't view hydrogen cars as a replacement for battery-powered cars, which consumers have cooled on after a burst in demand last year.

"We don't see battery-electric vehicles and fuel-cell vehicles as competitors," Rath said. "Rather, we think they complement each other."

Infrastructure for hydrogen cars is far sparser than charging stations for electric vehicles and, of course, gas stations. Toyota and BMW said they plan to promote fueling infrastructure.

The partnership will extend to commercial vehicles as well, BMW said.

Write to David Sachs at david.sachs@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 05, 2024 06:16 ET (10:16 GMT)

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