Production of fuel cell systems for BMW
A BMW employee in the production of fuel cell systems for the hydrogen car BMW iX5 Hydrogen.
(Photo: dpa)
The Munich car manufacturer BMW is testing the use of hydrogen in production at its plant in Leipzig. For this purpose, a flexible burner was put into operation in the paint shop, which can be operated with natural gas and hydrogen as well as a mixture of the two energy sources, the company announced on Thursday.
The double burner will initially be used as part of a pilot project. Among other things, car manufacturers need natural gas to heat ovens for drying paint. Green hydrogen has been considered the energy source of the future for years, but is currently only available in small quantities. A hydrogen network is currently being set up in the greater Leipzig area.
Hydrogen has long played a bigger role at BMW than at other German car manufacturers. The Munich company had announced that it would launch a small series of fuel cell cars that run on hydrogen before the end of this year.
Hydrogen-powered forklifts in action
Hydrogen-powered forklifts and other company vehicles have also been used in the plant logistics in Leipzig for years. In long-distance transport, the Munich company also gives hydrogen combustion engines a chance in addition to fuel cell vehicles.
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In addition, BMW is investing more than 800 million euros in the expansion of electric car component production in Leipzig. By 2024, the production of battery modules should be significantly expanded, the group said. Eight new production lines are planned, on which battery cells will be painted or combined into battery modules and high-voltage storage devices.
The batteries should be used in the electric version of the Mini Countryman, which will be built in Leipzig. At the same time, the number of employees in e-component production will rise to 1,000 by 2024 from the current 700. BMW built the electric car i3 in Leipzig from 2013 to summer 2022, which was one of the first fully electric vehicles in Germany.
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