BMW iX5 Hydrogen gets tested in the United Arab Emirates

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet, which we got to drive in Belgium, has completed what is described as an intensive round of hot-weather testing in the United Arab Emirates.

The tests saw the fuel cell drive system of the hydrogen-powered SUV performing impressively, despite facing temperatures as high as 45 degrees Celsius alongside the sand and dust of the nation's deserts.

The fleet is said to have performed admirably even in the 45 degree Celsius temperatures of the United Arab Emirates

The round of testing provided the Munich-based development team the opportunity to examine the electrical systems of the car under extreme conditions, and also provided an opportunity to put the vehicle's cooling system to the test in real-world conditions, ensuring that the iX5 Hydrogen will also be able to deploy its maximum performance, no matter the external conditions.

Vehicles from the pilot fleet are currently in action across regions including Europe, Japan, Korea, China, the U.S.A, and the Middle East. The BMW Group is working to develop the necessary refuelling infrastructure that can be used with the 700-bar storage system in the BMW iX5 Hydrogen. This system, BMW states, can be used across all categories of vehicles, from passenger cars and small vans to buses and heavy-duty commercial vehicles.

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen makes use of a fuel cell and the firm's fifth-generation eDrive technology, allowing the SUV to produce a total of 395bhp. The hydrogen in the car is stored in carbon fibre reinforced plastic tanks, which gives the car a total range of 504km based on the WLTP cycle.