THE BMW Group is adopting a new hydrogen tank technology for the BMW iX5 Hydrogen.

The new arrangement and size of the tanks enables a higher range of up to 385 miles.

The newBMW Hydrogen Flat Storagesystem offers the added advantage of making efficient use of the space it occupies in the vehicle and is compatible with the Gen6 high-voltage battery, meaning that no room is lost inside the cabin.

Models with fuel cell technology can therefore be built on the same production line as those with other drive system types.

The 700 bar high-pressure hydrogen tanks additionally benefit from the mechanical protection provided by the vehicle structure, further increasing safety.

"Our new storage concept allows us to fit the hydrogen drive system into the new X5 precisely and in a way that saves space," saysDr Joachim Post, board member of BMW AG responsible for Development"Think of it as installation Tetris: every customer gets the drive system best suited to their needs and a true BMW X5 with no compromises. This is technology openness and the art of engineering just the way we developers love them!"

The new flat tank system consists of seven high-pressure tanks made of carbon-fibre reinforced composite, which are connected with one another in parallel and integrated into a metal frame. What makes the design special is that, instead of individual pressure vessels, there are several chambers connected to form an enclosed unit.

It paves the way for widespread introduction of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen into the BMW Group's production network in 2028.