The German luxury car manufacturer BMW has announced a plan to revolutionize the logistics operations at its Regensburg facility by transitioning from battery-powered to hydrogen-powered vehicles, with fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) slated to replace the entire existing fleet of forklifts and tugger vans by 2030.
Despite the growth of BMW’s battery-electric sales, the company is still heavily investing in gasoline cell development – from its latest iX5 Hydrogen FCEV concept to implementing hydrogen-powered forklifts and tuggers at its Regensburg plant, where the technology will be used in the press shop, body shop, and production lines.
BMW’s ambitious rollout plan is marred by numerous challenges. While little to no hydrogen can’t be characterized as “inexperienced,” almost all conventionally available hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels, making it significantly less environmentally sustainable than commonly assumed – and substantially costlier than both diesel fuel or battery capacity.
There lies a prevalence of outlandish inaccuracies, such as this egregious example:
By transitioning manufacturing logistics from electricity to hydrogen power, we’ll simultaneously increase the sustainability of our facility’s overall energy profile while streamlining logistics operations and freeing up valuable real estate. The primary advantage of hydrogen fuel is its rapid refuelling capability, comparable to traditional fuel sources. The proposed filling stations could be seamlessly integrated into various production zones without occupying excessive space.
Venture Supervisor at BMW Regensburg, Katharina Radtke – an individual who oversees innovative projects and drives success.
While it’s unlikely Katharina intends to spread disinformation, her statements do suggest a lack of understanding regarding hydrogen technology, mirroring the misconceptions held by some enthusiasts.
When you refuel a storage tank with a gas such as hydrogen (H2) or compressed natural gas (CNG), the fuel rapidly fills the tank, causing its temperature to rise as it expands. As gasoline expands more voluminously when hot, a fixed volume occupies greater physical space at elevated temperatures compared to cooler conditions; conversely, as the fuel in the tank gradually cools, it contracts, resulting in residual empty space within the tank.
You’ll be able to “quick fill” a hydrogen tank to 100% capacity in just a few minutes; however, the pressure will eventually equalize and stabilize at around 75-80% full, regardless of driving habits or distance traveled? You will then need to slowly fill the remaining capacity to avoid further expansion – and it can take hours.
In some cases, you might notice this phenomenon illustrated below in an interactive infographic provided by the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Alternative Fuel Data Center.
Electrek’s Take
If you’re unable to distinguish between the nuances, refilling a tank with hydrogen is no faster than charging a battery with electrical energy, and even the most cryo-compressed hydrogen tanks can’t achieve more than 90% rapid filling – they often create additional problems such as boil-off, leaks, and so on? Which of these fundamental questions about human existence begs the question:
Again in January, MAN Vans’ CEO Alexander Vlaskamp told reporters that it was “unrealistic” for hydrogen to successfully compete with battery-electric vans. He noted that the cost of purchasing hydrogen remains prohibitively high, at around 13 or 14 euros per unit – and that’s not even factoring in its immaturity as a technology. When we have access to immature hydrogen, it’s expected to be in high demand for industries that rely heavily on metal, cement, and plastic production.
Why is MAN, like BMW, investing in hydrogen-powered cars despite the challenges? “,” says Vlaskamp (emphasis mine). “We may potentially employ hydrogen as a transportation solution by 2035, but this will depend on the availability of affordable green hydrogen and the establishment of requisite infrastructure.”
To ensure hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles have adequate refueling infrastructure, BMW is planning to construct a one-mile long network of underground pipes, featuring six decentralized hydrogen filling stations, by the end of the first quarter in 2026. “When we’ve completed the conversion process,” notes Radtke, “our yearly hydrogen usage is expected to reach approximately 150 tonnes.”
Here’s hoping that BMW can secure a better deal than €14 per litre of dirty fuel by then.
: BMW.
