[Upcoming Hydrogen Economy] Toyota, Honda, and BMW... "Studying Hydrogen Cars Intensively"

Honda to Launch Next-Generation Hydrogen Vehicle Based on 2024 CR-V
Toyota Adds New Mid-Size Sedan Crown Hydrogen Model to Lineup
BMW Advances Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Development... Accelerates iX5 Hydrogen Testing

Global automakers are focusing their efforts on developing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (hereinafter hydrogen electric vehicles·FCEVs). Not only Japanese brands Toyota and Honda but also German brand BMW, a powerhouse in internal combustion engines, have entered the hydrogen electric vehicle development arena. They highly value the potential and eco-friendliness of hydrogen energy and are pursuing a two-track strategy of developing hydrogen electric vehicles alongside electric vehicles.

Honda is the most recent company to update the status of its new hydrogen fuel cell development. In February, Honda announced a new blueprint for its hydrogen business. The goal is to launch the hydrogen fuel cell system jointly developed with GM in 2024. Honda released the Clarity FCEV in 2016 but discontinued it in 2021 due to lack of business viability. Honda is making a comeback with a hydrogen electric vehicle based on the CR-V in 2024. The new fuel cell system reduces the price to one-third of the previous model and doubles durability. Honda plans to sell about 2,000 hydrogen fuel cell systems annually around 2025 and 60,000 units by 2030.

[Upcoming Hydrogen Economy] Toyota, Honda, and BMW... "Studying Hydrogen Cars Intensively"

Next-generation hydrogen fuel cell system by Honda
Photo by Honda

Toyota is a leading company in the mass-produced hydrogen electric vehicle sector, competing closely with Hyundai Motor Company. Toyota launched the first-generation Mirai, a sedan-type FCEV, in 2014 and released the second-generation Mirai in 2020. The second-generation Mirai switched to rear-wheel drive, increasing the driving range by 30% compared to the previous model. The driving range of the second-generation Mirai is 402 miles (647 km·EPA standard), longer than Hyundai's Nexo (380 miles·611 km). Toyota is also preparing to launch a new hydrogen electric vehicle. The hydrogen electric vehicle lineup has been added to the mid-to-large sedan Crown, scheduled for release this fall.

Recently, Toyota developed a system that produces hydrogen using water electrolysis, utilizing its core technology of hydrogen fuel cell cells. The system produces 0.8 kg of hydrogen per hour and requires 53 kWh of electricity to produce 1 kg of hydrogen. Toyota began operating this system in March at the Denso plant in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Toyota is also pursuing technology partnerships with other automakers, sharing hydrogen fuel cell technology. Toyota's battery cells will be used in BMW's hydrogen electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) iX5 Hydrogen, which BMW aims to mass-produce within 10 years.

Toyota New Crown Equipped with Hydrogen Fuel Cell
[Photo by Yomiuri Shimbun, Toyota]

BMW recently declared a two-track strategy for electric vehicles and hydrogen electric vehicles. BMW independently developed all components of the fuel cell stack, system, battery, and powertrain for the iX5 Hydrogen, except for the battery cells. The key feature of BMW's hydrogen fuel cell system is power. By increasing the number of battery cells, continuous output is enabled. The 125 kW (170 horsepower) fuel cell combined with a 170 kW (231 horsepower) lithium-ion battery delivers a total output of 295 kW (401 horsepower). This performance is more powerful than the BMW X4 (gasoline·184 horsepower), the best-selling BMW SUV in Korea this year. It also surpasses the output of the same-class internal combustion engine SUV BMW X5 (gasoline·340 horsepower).

Since December last year, BMW has been conducting small-scale pilot production of the iX5 Hydrogen at its pilot plant in Munich, Germany. The fuel cell system has been in production since August last year. BMW has been continuously testing and developing the iX5 concept car for four years since its unveiling in 2019. It has undergone tests in various terrains and climates, including mountainous regions, extreme cold, and extreme heat. This year, about 100 units will be operated in pilot tests worldwide.