BMW and Toyota team for hydrogen race

The Future. Following the success of its Toyota Supra collaboration, BMW and Toyota are back in the driver’s seat together for a new venture — hydrogen-powered cars. The latest partnership signals a mutual interest in hydrogen power as an alternative to battery-powered EVs. The move may clear a lane for green revenue as battery production hits speed bumps due to supply-chain and mineral-mining issues. 

Start your water

Per Input, BMW and Toyota are collabing on a hydrogen takeover.

• The two companies are partnering to mass produce hydrogen-powered cars, with the first models available by 2025.
• We don’t know what kind of cars will come from the team-up, but BMW sales chief Pieter Nota says that hydrogen fuel cells are particularly interesting for large SUVs.

The partnership diversifies BMW’s sustainable-vehicle profile with battery power (the leading green-power source). Hydrogen fuel cells also adapt better to colder temperatures and can charge more quickly.

Ahead of the pack

For its part, Toyota is increasingly becoming the leader in the hydrogen-fuel space (granted, there’s not a lot of competition yet). 

• The Japanese automaker partnered with Woven Planet Holdings to develop a portable hydrogen cartridge.
• It announced that it would build hydrogen-powered trucks for the Japanese market.
• It released its first hydrogen car, the Mirai, which has a range of 400 miles. (BMW hopes to release its first, the iX5, by the end of the year.)

Conversely, Toyota is losing the EV race, with the bZ4X its only released car… which is already subject to a major recall due to issues with the wheels falling off. Yikes.