BMW Group's Regensburg plant will replace electric tractors and forklifts with hydrogen-powered trucks
Forklift truck at the BMW Group plant in Regensburg. Source: BMW
The BMW Group's plant in Regensburg, Germany, will start using hydrogen for production logistics from 2026. Hydrogen tractors and forklifts will perform all transport tasks, including the delivery of parts to the press shop, body shop and assembly lines.
Here's What We Know
The conversion of factory logistics to hydrogen is part of BMW's iFACTORY concept - the digital and environmentally friendly production of the future. As plant manager Armin Ebner points out, the switch from electricity to hydrogen will ensure greater sustainability and optimise processes.
A key advantage of hydrogen systems is fast refuelling, comparable to refuelling conventional fuels. The process also takes less space than replacing batteries, which is currently done manually with a crane, spending around 15 minutes per car.
Specialised vehicles from the BMW Group's Regensburg plant. Illustration: BMW
By 2026, the hydrogen infrastructure will be deployed at the plant: a 2-kilometre network of pipelines will be built and six compact refuelling stations will be installed in different areas of production. Once the transition is complete, the plant is expected to consume up to 150 tonnes of hydrogen annually.
Logistics of the future
Today, the logistics fleet of the BMW plant in Regensburg consists of 230 electric tractors and forklifts. The switch to hydrogen should be fully completed by 2030.
Source: BMW
