The new BMW X5 uses hydrogen as fuel but produces just 170hp.

What?

BMW is gearing up to debut its hydrogen-powered X5 in 2022. This move from BMW might hint at the dilemma of automotive manufacturers regarding the future of cars, as hydrogen fuel cells are not only more efficient but it is also considered as a better alternative to conventional battery-powered cars.

Why?

Unlike conventional electric cars, hydrogen fuel cell cars produce their electricity and are far more efficient at producing energy than any other conventional methods. The hydrogen fuel cells produce energy in form of electricity, and it is produced through the chemical reaction between the hydrogen and oxygen inside the fuel cells. The resulting by-product of the reaction is electricity and pure water. 

This ensures that the source of energy is not only clean and efficient but it also produces a very important resource, Water.

How?  

Instead of using big batteries under the floor to store energy, BMW uses a pair of tanks that can withstand 700-bar pressure to hold up to 6-kgs of hydrogen in total. This not only ensures that the source of energy is clean but it also reduces the recharge/refuelling time compared to a conventional battery-powered car.

Although a battery is used in the system, the battery in question is neither as large nor heavy as the ones used in a conventional electric car. One of the reasons for this setup is that the BMW’s new fuel cell system can generate only up to 170hp of power, but by using a battery pack, BMW can use a 374hp electric motor for propulsion. This complicated system also enables the engineers at BMW to use brake regeneration technology to recover the energy lost during braking. 

Conclusion.

Hydrogen fuel cells are one of the best alternates to fossil fuels and unlike conventional battery-powered vehicles, the charging time is similar to refuelling conventional cars. The other benefits of using hydrogen-powered cars are that the by-product is pure water. 

 

Athul Z

Content Creator, MYTYRE.