TOYOTA AND BMW COOPERATE ON HYDROGEN CARS

By Éric Descarries

Japanese automaker Toyota and its German counterpart BMW announced in early September that they would collaborate to create a BMW vehicle with hydrogen fuel cells, set to be marketed as early as 2028. This vehicle will use a highly efficient third-generation fuel cell system from Toyota. Rumour has it that this vehicle could be a new SUV based on BMW’s new Neue Klasse platform.

According to BMW, Toyota’s fuel cell system is expected to cost up to 50% less than anticipated and should provide 20% more range per kilogram of hydrogen per kilometre. The automaker states that, nonetheless, the electric motors, electronics, and several other components of the electric drivetrain would be identical in both battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell configurations. The agreement was overseen by BMW President Oliver Zipse and Toyota President Koji Sato, who, however, did not specify which market would be targeted!