1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

BMW shows off 245-hp, hydrogen-powered 5 Series GT

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Tideland Prius, Jul 3, 2015.

  1. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,768
    16,017
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    BMW shows off 245-hp, hydrogen-powered 5 Series GT

    Powered in part by Fuel Cell Hybrid Synergy Drive.
     
  2. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2010
    2,168
    764
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    If the mass-oriented Toyota brand FCV is at a 50k USD mark, I wonder the price for this 245hp 5GT...
     
  3. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2009
    13,525
    4,057
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    Probably around the the same. Toyota will lose money on the bmw too to get bmw to use it's tech in the vehicle, bmw will lose money building custom 5 series with toyota fuel cell and tanks, but the extra lithium batteries and motors shouldn't cost that much more than the nimh battery and motors in the mirai.

    bmw will write off their costs of the dozens of these fuel cell vehicles as r&d.
     
  4. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,068
    15,372
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    A California (i.e., CARB) business license.

    Bob Wilson
     
  5. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2010
    2,168
    764
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Well, I wouldn't really expect a miracle to happen

    - i3 has a MRSP of 42,400$ BMW i Overview - BMW North America
    - i3 is a compact car
    - 5GT is a (large) family car, luxury trimmed
    - i3 less nominal power (170hp vs 245hp)
    - FC stacks and H2 tanks are very expensive...
     
  6. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2009
    13,525
    4,057
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    [
    Oh absolutely it will cost bmw/toyota more than they sell it for, I wasn't arguing that. I just don't think enough people would be willing to pay what it costs, so BMW and Toyota will eat the extra costs to get some bmw fuel cells on the road.

    Mirai list price in the US is about the same as the bmw 535i gran turismo. I don't think bmw can sell a version that has less hp and can only refuel at 68 stations for a lot more money. They want to get some on the road, say 500, and even if they lose $100,000 on each one that is only a $50M loss. I think loss will be lower. The cost of R&D is much higher. GM has spent over $3B, toyota probably is getting close to gm spending. BMW won't lose much on this car, and won't make very many.
     
    #6 austingreen, Jul 8, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2015
  7. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2010
    2,168
    764
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Tesla Model S priced similar, maybe...
     
  8. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2009
    13,525
    4,057
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    could be, I expect bmw and toyota to go in some back room, and decide how many bmw should sell and how much toyota will charge them for fuel cells. The cost of the fuel cells will help bmw decide how many it wants to sell. Once the number is determined bmw will try to price a lease to sell that many. It won't have much to do with cost.

    BMW has decided to compete with tesla with phevs. The first semi direct competitions will be the bmw 330e versus tesla model 3. This fuel cell car is an R&D project. BMW wants to do R&D while wasting the least money to do the job. I don't know how many cars they need for feedback, but the number for the hydrogen 7 was 100 cars. I expect this to be higher, but less than 1000 car run.
     
    #8 austingreen, Jul 8, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2015
  9. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,605
    8,036
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    With the huge ZEV values afforded to FC cars, I'd imagine that would absorb almost 1/2 of the loss they eat. Top that with whatever advertising / halo effect manufacturers believe comes along with high tech / green (tho maybe not really that much) - they may rationalize the hit is 'only' $5k or $6k per vehicle.
    .
     
  10. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2009
    13,525
    4,057
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    I think they will eat more than that. Also the fcv bonus zev credits are suposed to end in 2018 before this thing ships. There is no halo effect for fcv. Look at the clarity's halo it gave honda. There is a political effect and bmw is probably doing this to please these polticians so they can get something else from them. In germany they hope to get more subsidies for phevs ;-)In california they are probably doing this to help toyota, which will then help bmw on something it wants.