BMW: the famous German automobile group plans to develop a new concept by 2028

An automotive revolution? On Thursday, September 5, BMW, together with Toyota, announced a major project for 2028. Indeed, the two car manufacturers will join forces to begin mass production of a vehicle powered by a fuel cell. In other words, the first vehicle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell should be on the market within 4 years.

BMW and hydrogen, a long-standing story

This is not a megalomania but a project that has apparently been worked on and has been in the works for a long time. Indeed, by taking a closer look at the German manufacturer, we quickly realize that the history between BMW and hydrogen goes back several decades.

Indeed, on its website the car manufacturer recalls that “The BMW Group already presented the prototype of a BMW 520h with a combustion engine using H2 in 1979. [ndr, formule chimique de l’hydrogène]”.

Today, it is no longer really a question of thermal or combustion engines. Even if this mode of mobility is the majority today in the world, we are increasingly tending to do without it in order to make a transition to the electric car.

In 2028, a new electric BMW model powered by a fuel cell is expected to be made available to the general public. At a price, of course, that is currently completely unknown.

Currently, the German manufacturer is promoting the revolutionary, green technology on its fleet of test models. iX5 HydrogenIn a few years, the test will take on the appearance of reality.

How does a fuel cell work?

Of course, a car that “runs on batteries” can make you smile or wonder if BMW is getting into the business of designing toys for children. But not at all.

So this is how a fuel cell works, which would use hydrogen to power future BMW cars.

Roughly speaking, it should be understood that the fuel cell produces electricity from a chemical reaction. Here, it takes place between oxygen and hydrogen. The cell itself is divided into three parts:

• Two electrodes: anode (receiving hydrogen) and cathode (receiving oxygen)
• An electrolyte, namely a substance that conducts electricity

So, here is how the chemical reaction takes place:

• Hydrogen is sent to the anode, it splits into protons and electrons
• The protons are sent into the electrolyte while the electrons pass through an external circuit which will generate an electric current.
• On the cathode side, oxygen combines with protons and electrons to form water and release heat
• All of this ends up producing energy.

H2, a magic formula towards decarbonization

If electric mobility is already starting to make its mark in the daily lives of millions of people: cars, bicycles, scooters, scooters… Researchers and engineers everywhere are racking their brains to finally achieve a common goal: zero emissions.

It is very utopian to imagine such a world, but with ideas and tests, we are slowly starting to get closer to it. And it would seem that to achieve zero emissions or decarbonization, hydrogen (H2) is a necessary step.

If you hear about it today in cars, know that the question also arises for much larger means of transport. Indeed, companies with more or less market strength hope to develop, among other things, airliners that are powered by hydrogen.

But again, this seems like a distant future.

Source : Car and Driver