BMW aims to have fuel-cell powertrain components for production cars ready by 2020, says the automaker’s head of fuel-cell development. Merten Jung told Digital Trends magazine that plans are to have the components ready by the end of the decade, when it will be decided in which vehicles they’ll be used. He said hydrogen fuel cells could be best suited to larger vehicles. Batteries are adequate in smaller vehicles because the weight of a battery pack is offset somewhat by the vehicle’s tidier proportions. In larger, heavier vehicles, relatively lighter fuel-cell powertrains & where hydrogen is converted to electricity on the fly, are viewed as perhaps a better solution. BMW’s fuel-cell partner, Toyota, is said to be developing a fuel-cell version of the Lexus LS full-size luxury sedan.
Hydrogen fuel cells could provide a more compact solution to power demands for larger vehicles. (PHOTO: BMW)
