German carmaker BMW announced on Wednesday that it will launch a limited run of one of its flagship models, the X5, in a hydrogen-powered version, a technology it sees as promising for the transition to low-carbon mobility, AFP reported.

“The small series BMW iX5 Hydrogen will go into circulation worldwide from the end of this year for testing and demonstration purposes,” the group said in a statement.

The Bavarian group said that the fuel cells for these SUVs will be “manufactured at BMW’s center of competence for hydrogen technology” in Munich.

This fleet of vehicles will be equipped with both a fuel cell and a battery.

While some manufacturers such as Volkswagen are betting on electric batteries, the Munich-based manufacturer has long believed that “hydrogen plays a key role on the path to climate neutrality,” CEO Oliver Zipse was quoted as saying in the statement. .

BMW considers itself a “pioneer” in this field, especially thanks to its collaboration since 2013 with Japan’s Toyota, the world’s first manufacturer and one of the most advanced in the field of hydrogen engines.

BMW believes that this technology can be better adapted to the needs of certain customers.

“We have succeeded in doubling the continuous production of fuel cells (…) while significantly reducing both weight and size,” the group says.

According to specialized media, after this small-scale production, BMW wants to bring this hydrogen model to the market in 2025.

At the moment, the development of hydrogen engines is mainly devoted to commercial vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles. Its production is very energy intensive and still heavily dependent on fossil fuels. The lack of distribution stations is also an obstacle to its development.

BMW said in March that it plans to have two million electric models on the road by the end of 2025, promising 13 new electric models in three years and a future revolution for the Mini brand.