BMW to Launch the iX5 Hydrogen in 2028: 750 km Range and 5-Minute Refuelling

BMW is preparing its first hydrogen car for series production. The iX5 Hydrogen, an SUV based on the new X5, runs entirely on a hydrogen fuel cell and will reach the market in 2028. It is the first model with which BMW moves hydrogen from pilot fleet to real production.

What the car offers

The iX5 Hydrogen combines the driving feel of a BMW with the benefits of hydrogen:

• A range of up to 750 km (WLTP) on a single fill
• Refuelling in less than five minutes
• At least 7 kilograms of hydrogen on board, at 700-bar pressure
• Full xDrive all-wheel drive and an M Sport package

Josef Hochreiter, Head of Hydrogen Vehicles at BMW, sums up the ambition: it should be "a true BMW", engineered for sheer driving pleasure.

A new flat tank layout

At the heart of the car is the BMW Hydrogen Flat Storage System: seven carbon-fibre-reinforced high-pressure tanks connected in parallel within a robust metal frame. The flat design lets the tanks sit neatly beneath the car, alongside the Gen6 battery, without sacrificing cabin space.

Fuel cell co-developed with Toyota

The fuel cell is a third-generation system, developed together with Toyota. It is more powerful and efficient than the previous version, while being around 25% more compact. Series production takes place at BMW's plant in Steyr, Austria, with prototype builds in Munich and Steyr.

Choice for the customer

BMW positions hydrogen firmly alongside other clean and conventional options. The new X5 will come in several versions: battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, petrol, diesel and hydrogen. Customers can pick the drivetrain that best fits their situation. Alongside battery-electric, hydrogen is a full-fledged zero-emission solution — with fast refuelling and long range as key strengths, especially for those covering long distances.

Sources

• BMW Group – "The new BMW iX5 Hydrogen" (2026)
• Fuel Cells Works – "BMW iX5 Hydrogen – Innovation Meets Performance" (1 July 2026)
• pv magazine – "BMW targets 2028 hydrogen car launch" (16 April 2026)