BMW Group Plant Regensburg plans to utilize H₂ for its production logistics going forward. Starting in 2026, H₂-powered tugger trains and forklift trucks will be deployed for all transport and logistics tasks. This includes operations in the press shop, body shop and assembly, ensuring that the necessary components and individual parts are delivered to the correct locations for installation.

The project aims to capitalize on the benefits of H₂ propulsion. “The gradual transition from electric to H₂ propulsion brings us another step closer to the BMW iFACTORY, our digital and sustainable factory of the future,” said Armin Ebner, head of BMW Group Plant Regensburg.

“Switching production logistics from electricity to H₂ will diversify our plant’s energy mix – while optimizing logistics processes and saving valuable space,” explained Project Manager Katharina Radtke. “The advantage of H₂ is that refueling is very fast – just like with conventional fuels. The filling stations required for this will be installed directly within the different production areas and do not take up much space.”

The entire logistics fleet at the Regensburg plant is currently being equipped with electric drive trains. The batteries used in the industrial trucks need to be changed twice per shift. Battery replacement, which is performed manually using a crane, takes about 15 minutes and requires space.

To ensure the wide-scale supply of H₂ in the future, BMW Group plant Regensburg will install a two-kilometer-long pipeline network, with six decentralized filling stations, between now and early 2026. These stations will supply the logistics fleet in the various production areas with H₂, delivered in special trailers that can also be used for interim storage. “Once the conversion is completed, our annual H₂ consumption will be around 150 tons,” said Radtke.

The logistics fleet at BMW Group Plant Regensburg currently comprises about 230 tugger train haulers and forklift trucks. The transition will be completed in stages by 2030.