BMW’s Next Powertrain: Breaking Down the Gen3 Hydrogen System

I’m at the Tokyo Mobility Show with Michael Rath from BMW’s hydrogen program to take a close look at the company’s next big step in fuel-cell tech. A few weeks ago we tore down the Gen2 system in New York — today we’re comparing it directly with the all-new Gen3 setup that will go into the 2028 BMW iX5 Hydrogen.

The Gen3 system is 25% more compact, more powerful, and more efficient. Michael walks through every major component — the fuel-cell stack, DCDC converter, compressor, intercooler, and humidifier — and explains how the system produces electricity in real time instead of relying on a giant battery pack.

We also talk about BMW’s joint development with Toyota, why the X5 is the first production model, and how hydrogen fits into BMW’s long history of alternative drivetrains: from the 1972 electric 2002, to the hydrogen E12 5 Series, the Hydrogen 7, the H2R land-speed car, and the early i5 fuel-cell prototypes.

The goal isn’t to replace BEVs, but to offer a second zero-emission drivetrain for markets and customers where batteries alone aren’t enough. Faster refueling, better energy resilience, and long-range towing are all part of the case for hydrogen.

We finish with a look at the EX5 Hydrogen prototype and BMW’s plan to keep the next-gen X5 flexible enough to run all five drivetrain types — ICE, PHEV, BEV, mild-hybrid, and fuel-cell.

0:00 – Intro from the Tokyo Mobility Show
0:22 – What’s new with BMW’s hydrogen program
0:48 – First look at the Gen3 fuel-cell system
1:15 – Why the new system is 25% more compact
1:42 – Full walkthrough of the fuel-cell components
3:00 – Key differences between Gen2 and Gen3
3:30 – What BMW learned from Gen2
3:58 – BMW x Toyota: How the partnership works
4:32 – Explaining fuel-cell EVs for first-time viewers
5:12 – Why BMW chose the X5 for the 2028 model
6:00 – Current iX5 Hydrogen specs (and teasers for Gen3)
7:05 – Refueling, infrastructure, and customer concerns
7:55 – Where hydrogen infrastructure is growing fastest
8:30 – BMW’s hydrogen history (1970s–today)
9:58 – From hydrogen combustion to fuel-cell development
10:40 – First i5 hydrogen prototype and early testing
11:25 – How the program leads to the 2028 EX5 Hydrogen
11:50 – Multi-drivetrain flexibility in the next-gen X5
12:25 – When I’ll get to drive the Gen3 hydrogen X5
12:45 – Closing from the Tokyo Mobility Show


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