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hydrogen X5 joins the line-up
BMW has confirmed plans to offer a hydrogen fuel cell variant of the next-generation X5, with customer sales expected to begin in 2028. The FCEV X5 will sit alongside petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and battery electric versions as part of BMW's broadest electrified drivetrain strategy to date. The new model builds on the experimental iX5 Hydrogen test car and uses a third-generation fuel cell system developed with Toyota.
Vehicle specifications and powertrain
The third-generation hydrogen fuel cell system represents a notable engineering step forward. Compared with the iX5 Hydrogen pilot setup, BMW says the new stack is roughly 25 percent smaller while delivering higher power density, improved efficiency and better packaging for the X5's Cluster Architecture CLAR. Production figures for the final production X5 FCEV are still provisional, but the iX5 Hydrogen combined a 187bhp fuel cell stack with a 295bhp electric motor and buffer battery for a total of about 396bhp and a WLTP range near 313 miles from two 700-bar tanks carrying 6kg of hydrogen. BMW has stated the new system will exceed the iX5 Hydrogen in range, output and efficiency and will use a modular layout to suit multiple vehicle types.
Key technical details
- Third-generation fuel cell stack, smaller and higher power density
- Modular architecture for scalable vehicle integration
- BMW Energy Master: a hydrogen-specific high-voltage control unit
- Hydrogen storage at 700-bar pressure in multiple tanks
Design and interior changes
Prototype images of the G65-generation X5 indicate a fresh look influenced by BMW s upcoming second-generation iX3 on the Neue Klasse platform. Expect sharper aerodynamic details and model-specific styling cues to distinguish this fifth-generation X5 from its predecessors.
Interior and technology
Inside, BMW will move away from traditional instrument clusters in favour of a panoramic projected display system paired with a widescreen central interface of about 17.9 inches. The long-running iDrive rotary controller is likely to be removed, with future X5 models relying primarily on touch and advanced voice controls for infotainment and vehicle functions.
Production, components and rollout
BMW will manufacture the fuel cell stacks at its Steyr plant in Austria, where new lines and testing equipment are being installed. Additional hydrogen-specific components, including the BMW Energy Master high-voltage controller, will be produced at the Landshut facility in Germany. Initial prototypes are scheduled for assembly at BMW s Dingolfing plant. Sales will be focused on selected markets with suitable hydrogen refuelling infrastructure rather than a full global rollout.
Market positioning and comparison
The X5 FCEV is targeted at buyers and fleets that need fast refuelling and long range combined with zero tailpipe emissions, compared with battery electric alternatives that require longer charge times. Compared with the iX5 Hydrogen pilot, the production FCEV aims to be more compact, more powerful and more efficient, while using a modular fuel cell design to broaden applicability across BMW s future hydrogen range. BMW positions the hydrogen X5 as a complementary zero-emission option alongside BEVs and plug-in hybrids, rather than a direct replacement.
What this means for buyers and the wider market
The arrival of a production hydrogen X5 in 2028 will expand consumer choice in the premium SUV segment for those with access to hydrogen refuelling. It also underlines BMW s strategy to develop multiple electrified powertrains in parallel, allowing the brand to serve diverse markets and use cases as infrastructure evolves.
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