- The new BMW X5 will launch in 2028 in petrol, diesel, PHEV, BEV and hydrogen fuel cell options.
- BMW’s BMW's iX5 Hydrogen uses a third-gen fuel cell system co-developed with Toyota, offering improved efficiency, range and power.
- The HyMoS initiative is expanding hydrogen refuelling networks in Germany and France.
BMW is about to pull a neat trick with its X5 line-up, offering not two, not three, but five different powertrain flavours. From 2028, buyers can pick petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric or for the first time in series production, hydrogen fuel cell.
The iX5 Hydrogen will roll out after years of pilot testing, positioning BMW as the first premium brand to commit a mainstream SUV to this technology.
Five ways to drive an X5
BMW has long preached a “technology-open” strategy, and the X5 is its new poster child. Flexible production means Munich can build everything from ICE to full electric under one roof, two EV types included: battery-powered and hydrogen fuel cell.
That makes the X5 the first BMW to give customers five distinct drivetrains in a single model range.
Joachim Post, BMW board member for development, summed it up in New York: *“Hydrogen has an essential part to play in global decarbonisation, which is why we are committed to driving the technology forward.”*
Fuel cells, with Toyota DNA
The new iX5 Hydrogen uses BMW’s third-generation fuel cell system, co-developed with Toyota. BMW says the tech now fits into a more compact package, while offering higher efficiency, longer range and more power output. Early prototypes are already being assembled in Munich and Steyr, with further components sourced from Landshut.
Michael Rath, BMW’s VP for hydrogen vehicles, put it plainly: “The new BMW iX5 Hydrogen will be a true BMW - pioneering in its class and delivering the BMW typical driving pleasure.”
Building the ecosystem too
A hydrogen SUV is one thing, but fuelling it is another. BMW is pushing the HyMoS (Hydrogen Mobility at Scale) initiative, aimed at clustering demand across trucks, buses and cars so stations can be profitable. Pilot projects are running in Germany and France, with the goal of expanding into more metropolitan areas—and potentially, other countries.
BMW hasn’t yet disclosed WLTP consumption or range figures for the iX5 Hydrogen. What’s clear is that hydrogen is no longer just a pet project for Munich. It’s also taking its place alongside petrol, diesel and battery power as a proper option in the showroom.
