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BMW has begun making hydrogen fuel cells for use in test cars that will be entering service around the world from the end of this year.
The limited run of iX5 Hydrogen vehicles, based on the company's X5 SUV, will be used for testing and development purposes.
The fuel cell will produce 170hp, and will be combined with an electric motor for a total output of 374hp. BMW says this combination is unique in the premium market.
The iX5 Hydrogen follows on from the previous 5 Series GT Hydrogen Cell, produced in 2015. BMW says that the new second-generation fuel cell design achieves more than double the power output of the previous one, while also achieving drastic reductions in size and weight.
Individual fuel cells from Toyota are used by BMW, with the two companies having been collaborating on fuel cell technology since 2013.
BMW AG Board of Management chairman Oliver Zipse said: "As a versatile energy source, hydrogen has a key role to play on the road to climate neutrality. And it will also gain substantially in importance as far as personal mobility is concerned.
"We think hydrogen-powered vehicles are ideally placed technologically to fit alongside battery-electric vehicles and complete the electric mobility picture.
"By commencing small-scale production of fuel cells today, we are demonstrating the technical maturity of this type of drive system and underscoring its potential for the future."
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