BMW fuel cell vehicle on sale by 2020 – report
BMW will reportedly have a fuel cell vehicle on sale by around 2020.
Sources have told AutoExpress that the Bavarian automaker is planning to have a vehicle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell stack on the market by 2020.
A senior person within BMW explained to the British magazine that the luxury car company is working behind the scenes on fuel cell technology, but "will pass on the chance" to equip a production vehicle with what he/she describes as first-generation technology.
Instead, the company is aiming to put a car powered by a "second-generation" hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain into production, with a launch targeted for 2020.
Above: The Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicle.
Back in 2013, Toyota and BMW began working together on various alternative fuel projects, including fuel cell stacks and hydrogen tank technology. When the Japanese and German automakers made their co-operation agreement official, they estimated that the first fruits of their joint work would surface in 2020.
The two companies are also currently collaborating on battery storage, electric motors, and lightweight car components and vehicle structures, as well as sports car to sit above the Toyota 86 and replace the BMW Z4.
Above: The Toyota Mirai's hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain.
It's not clear whether BMW's fuel cell vehicle will be a dedicated model or a variant of another car. If it does come to fruition, the fuel cell vehicle will likely be a part of the company range of "i" vehicles.
At present there are only two models in BMW dedicated electrified sub-brand: the i3 electric or range-extended hatch, and the i8 plug-in hybrid supercar.
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