From InsideEVs.
Hydrogen-powered cars have never quite gotten off the ground. But BMW thinks the new iX5 Hydrogen coming in 2028 can change that.
On this special episode of the InsideEVs Plugged-In Podcast, brought to you in partnership with BMW, Patrick and Tim sit down with Dr. Michael Rath, the automaker’s VP of hydrogen vehicles.
They discuss the history of hydrogen-powered cars—from BMW’s first effort in the 1970s to its 12-cylinder engine that ran on liquified hydrogen to the iX5 Hydrogen going on sale soon. Dr. Rath explains why BMW is still betting big on hydrogen as a zero-emission option for people who can’t conveniently charge a conventional battery-powered EV.
The guys also ask about the challenges facing hydrogen fuel-cell EVs. What would it take to build out hydrogen fueling infrastructure in a major way? Will fuel-cell EVs ever be as popular as battery-powered ones? Are commercial vehicles the best application for this technology?
Stick around for this fascinating conversation about the future of BMW’s hydrogen-vehicle efforts.
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00:00 – Introduction
01:30 – BMW X5 Powertrains
02:00 – Dr. Michael Rath Introduction
03:00 – How Did Hydrogen Start?
05:00 – How Do Hydrogen Vehicles Work?
06:00 – What Learnings From EVs Go Into Hydrogen?
07:27 – Why Is BMW Pursuing Hydrogen?
10:44 – Why Sell An X5 With So Many Engine Variants?
14:40 – Hydrogen In Commerical Applications
17:45 – Who Is Hydrogen For?
21:38 – What Does It Take To Build A Hydrogen Filling Station?
23:00 – Why Hasn’t Hydrogen Taken Off?
25:00 – How Does Hydrogen Fuel Become More Sustainable?
26:30 – What Is BMW Doing To Grow Hydrogen Infrastructure?
30:19 – Why Hydrogen Now?
32:48 – What Will It Take For Mass Hydrogen Adoption In The US?
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