The BMW Group has begun pre-series production of the Energy Master control unit for the BMW iX5 Hydrogen at its Landshut plant in Germany, the central high-voltage component that the company is developing and manufacturing fully in-house for the first time. Plant Landshut commissioned a second production line for the battery-electric version of the same unit at the same time, almost doubling capacity for the control units that ship in the BMW iX3 and i3. The hydrogen-specific Energy Master installs on the BMW Hydrogen Flat Storage system and serves as the interface between the fuel cell, the high-voltage battery, and the electric drive machines.
Highlights
- Hydrogen-specific Energy Master: A modified version of the high-voltage control unit, mounted on the BMW Hydrogen Flat Storage system, managing power and data across the fuel cell, battery, and e-machine.
- Second BEV line commissioned: Series production for the iX3 and i3 control unit has run since last year; the new line nearly doubles capacity.
- In-house development: First time BMW has developed and produced the Energy Master entirely in-house, with Landshut already supplying the media distribution plate and fuel cell stack housing for the current pilot fleet.
- Project funding: The HyPowerDrive program backing the iX5 Hydrogen powertrain and tank development carries EUR 191 million (about $222 million) from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport and EUR 82 million (about $95 million) from Bavaria.
What the Energy Master Does
The Energy Master is the central control unit of the high-voltage system. In the battery-electric Neue Klasse cars, it mounts directly on the high-voltage battery. In the iX5 Hydrogen, a modified variant performs the equivalent control function from a different position within the drivetrain — installed on the Hydrogen Flat Storage system, the seven-tank composite assembly that stores hydrogen across the X5 floor.
The unit combines energy and data flows, manages power supply for the electric machine and on-board electrical system, and ensures safe operation of the overall drivetrain. That makes it the principal interface between the fuel cell system, the high-voltage battery, and the electric drive units.
Josef Hochreiter, Vice President Hydrogen Vehicles at the BMW Group, said: “Our ambition for the BMW iX5 Hydrogen is clear: a genuine BMW – with sheer driving pleasure. To achieve this, a perfectly coordinated overall system is crucial. The Energy Master is a key component in this: it intelligently controls the innovative high-voltage battery and, together with the third-generation fuel cell system, delivers assured driving dynamics.”
Landshut’s Dual-Drivetrain Role
Plant Landshut now runs two parallel Energy Master production areas. The battery-electric line has produced control units for the iX3 and i3 since 2025, and the second BEV line commissioned alongside the hydrogen pre-series launch nearly doubles that output. The hydrogen-specific Energy Master enters pre-series production at the same site.
Landshut also produces two other components in the BMW hydrogen drivetrain network: the media distribution plate, which routes hydrogen and air within the fuel cell, and the structural housing that integrates and protects the cell stack. Both have been in production for the current iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet and have been refined since. Thomas Thym, Head of BMW Group Plant Landshut, said: “With the start of pre-series production of the hydrogen-specific Energy Master, we are reinforcing Plant Landshut’s role as a centre of expertise for innovative drivetrain technologies. Here we combine development, manufacturing expertise and industrial scaling – for battery-electric vehicles as well as hydrogen fuel cells.”
The company has invested a high three-digit million-euro sum at Landshut since 2020 to build out electromobility capacity.
Road to 2028 Launch
The iX5 Hydrogen will launch in 2028 with a manufacturer-stated range of up to 750 kilometers. Because the vehicle remains a development prototype, statutory WLTP and EPA consumption figures are not yet available, and the range figure differs in basis from EPA-certified ratings that U.S. readers will see at launch.
The drivetrain pairs the Hydrogen Flat Storage system with the third-generation BMW fuel cell, which is being developed jointly with Toyota Motor Corporation and which the company says is more compact, more efficient, and more powerful than prior generations. Series production of the fuel cell systems begins in 2028 at BMW Plant Steyr in Austria, with Landshut integrated as a technology and component site.
Funding and Industrial Policy
Development of the iX5 Hydrogen powertrain and tank system runs under the HyPowerDrive project, funded through Germany’s IPCEI Hy2Move framework. The Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) is providing EUR 191 million, approximately $222 million, with the state of Bavaria contributing an additional EUR 82 million, approximately $95 million. Project Management Jülich (PtJ) implements the funding, coordinated by NOW GmbH.
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