GENERAL NEWS
BMW Group starts in-house production of fuel cells
On 31 August 2022 , Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG , Oliver Zipse , and Frank Weber , Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development , inaugurated fuel-cell system production at the company ’ s competence centre for hydrogen in Munich , Germany .
The reason for this is that small series BMW iX5 Hydrogen cars that will be entering service around the world from the end of this year ( for test and demonstration purposes ). The combination of fuel cell and high-performance battery is set to enrich the company ’ s portfolio by adding a unique form of drive system for the premium segment . The BMW Group is playing a pioneering role in this technology with the aim of achieving more diversified transition to zero-emission mobility .
“ As a versatile energy source , hydrogen has a key role to play on the road to climate neutrality . It will also gain substantially in importance as far as personal mobility is concerned . We think hydrogen-powered vehicles are ideally placed technologically to fit alongside battery-electric vehicles and complete the electric mobility picture ,” said Oliver Zipse . “ By commencing smallscale production of fuel cells today , we are demonstrating the technical maturity of this type of drive system and underscoring its potential for the future .”
BMW has managed to more than double the fuel cell ’ s continuous output in the second-generation fuel cell in the BMW iX5 Hydrogen , while weight and size have both decreased drastically . It considers hydrogen to “ hold great promise for its next generation of vehicles ” and will now be manufacturing efficient fuel cell systems at its in-house competence centre for hydrogen .
This technology is one of the core elements in the BMW iX5 Hydrogen and generates a high continuous output of 125kW / 170hp . It teams up with an electric motor featuring fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology and a high-performance battery developed for this vehicle to enable its powertrain to deliver 275kW / 374hp . The development team incorporated the drive system – comprising two hydrogen tanks , the fuel cell and the electric motor – into the existing BMW X5 platform for the small production run .
The BMW Group sources the individual fuel cells required for manufacturing the BMW iX5 Hydrogen from the Toyota Motor Corporation . The two companies have been collaborating on fuelcell drive systems since 2013 . n
BMW worker with production fuel-cell stack housing .
The inauguration ceremony .
Global demand rises for prefabs / structural steel
The global prefabricated building and structural steel market size reached US $ 206.8 billion in 2021 , according to ResearchandMarkets . Looking forward , it expects the market to reach US $ 299.4 billion by 2027 , exhibiting a CAGR of 6.36 % from 2021-2027 .
“ Significant growth in the construction industry , an increase in infrastructural activities and technological advances in the construction process are key factors positively influencing the market . In addition , rising awareness among individuals about the benefits of using prefabricated material and structural steel ( such as flexibility , durability , energy efficiency and faster completion ) is creating a positive outlook for the market ,” said the report .
The expansion of hotels , institutes , shopping complexes and high-rise buildings is catalysing demand for these
Image : Shutterstock . com . materials to enhance the durability of infrastructure . The widespread adoption of prefabricated materials in temporary construction facilities ; office spaces ; medical camps ; evacuation centres ; schools ; apartment blocks and single-detached houses is offering lucrative growth opportunities to manufacturers .
“ The shifting focus towards waste management and minimising harmful emissions are increasing the adoption of green building practices which , in turn , is driving the demand for these materials . Moreover , the increasing traction of smart cities is [ fuelling ] demand for prefabricated
REPORT