🚨 BMW HAS SOLVED ONE OF HYDROGEN’S BIGGEST PACKAGING PROBLEMS. The company has developed a new “Hydrogen Flat Storage” system for the iX5 that uses seven slim hydrogen tanks instead of two large ones. This flat design fits into the same space as the high-voltage battery pack used in the electric iX5. This is significant because it allows BMW to build the hydrogen-powered iX5 on the same production line as petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric versions without major changes to the factory or vehicle architecture. The system stores 7kg of hydrogen at 700 bar and gives the iX5 an estimated range of 385 miles. BMW plans to start series production of the iX5 Hydrogen in 2028, using a fuel cell developed in partnership with Toyota. Why this matters: • One of the biggest barriers to hydrogen vehicles has been packaging the tanks without sacrificing interior space or requiring completely separate production lines • This modular “flat storage” approach makes hydrogen powertrains much more practical to manufacture at scale • It gives BMW flexibility to produce multiple powertrains on one platform depending on demand and regional infrastructure The deeper implication: While battery electric vehicles currently dominate, BMW is continuing to develop hydrogen as a parallel technology, particularly for larger vehicles and longer-range applications. Being able to build both BEVs and FCEVs on the same line is a pragmatic engineering step that could make hydrogen vehicles more commercially viable in the future if the refuelling infrastructure catches up. Follow for more frontier automotive and energy technology.

Chinese car brands aren’t just shaking up the UK car market on price, tech and product. They’re now leading on customer experience, too. The latest @carblah_ Customer Experience Index analyses real customer sentiment from almost a quarter of a million reviews across sales, service and ownership touchpoints – and the results show a pretty dramatic shift. Omoda tops the entire UK market, followed by Chery and Jaecoo, with Leapmotor UK and GWM UK also in the top five. Changan, Geely and BYD are in the top ten, too. Only one premium brand, Lexus, makes it into the overall top ten. For years, premium car brands have traded on reputation, heritage and a belief that higher prices automatically come with a better experience. But the data suggests customers are thinking differently. They’re rewarding brands and retailers that make the process clear, fair and easy. They’re valuing simplicity, consistency and trust. And some of the newest names in the market are delivering that better than many long-established players. The Index also shows how customer expectations are moving fast. Mainstream brands are generally stable and consistent, while luxury and performance brands still deliver the high-touch experience buyers expect. But the biggest story is the rise of the challengers – and the pressure that puts on established OEMs and their retail networks. Customer experience is delivered by retailers, not just car makers. And some manufacturers may be surprised, and disappointed, by how their networks are representing them. At Carblah, we built the Customer Experience Index to look beyond star ratings and understand what customers are actually experiencing. Using AI-powered analysis of real-world reviews, we can see the sentiment, behaviour and operational signals sitting behind the scores. And this latest Index tells a clear story: customers reward brands that treat them well. Reputation alone is no longer enough. So congrats to those brands that are satisfying their customers – if you want to know how to stay on top, get in touch. And for those brands that really should be doing better, we can provide insight and advice on how improving customer service will improve the profitability of your business. Drop me a line.

Little bit of time mucking around on the Luce configurator last night. Say what you like about the exterior - as many people have done - but that interior is phenomenal

Ok, let’s talk about Luce, shall we. What if we forget it’s Ferrari and start thinking about thought chain here. So, probably, to achieve some descent speed and drivability engines was developed first. As there are four of them, there is somehow we should feed them with energy and we need A LOT of batteries or extremely clever software to provide and power and descend mile range. Assuming software and optimisation isn’t here yet for first car, we have enormous battery pack, with comes with weight, size and temperature. So on the foundation we have very long heavy car. Now we have to design a box around it. And suspension, what can trick our mind. Classic sport shapes don’t work as battery floor is too high and you can’t make a holes for passengers(as Mercedes did in amg gt in cost of rear seats), so proportion of the final vehicle is quite off already, car is taller for the size of the battery. Why we can’t make it lower? Ergonomics, roof has to be in the place you don’t beat your head all the time. So as a designer you have to fight with visual disproportion and hide it graphically, aerodynamics, safety standards, ergonomics etc. I believe it is a descent job here counting all restrictions and challenges, and surely design not really deserved to be on the posters in your bedroom, it should be lovely car to have. So. We have the most accessible Ferrari yet. Yet it’s inaccessible for almost everyone.

Yes, this is a Ferrari. For real. Ferrari's first all-electric car, the Luce, has arrived, and it brings radical change to Maranello. What do you think of its looks?

The new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé is here! This four-door powerhouse has gone electric, and it's equipped with three electric motors that combine to produce an insane 1,169hp! 🤯 It also features... 🔥 Realistic V8 soundtrack! ⚙️ Simulated gear changes! 🏎️ 0-62 in 2.4 seconds! 💨 Active rear diffuser! 🤑 From around £120,000! ⚡️ 600KW charging speeds! Who's excited for this one?

BYD dropped a 13-meter-tall palm tree on the Yangwang U8 three times to prove its extreme durability. [📹BYD Global]

The CPCA has released the April NEV insurance registration data for mainstream automakers. Here is a snapshot of the key performers: BYD: 182,025 Geely: 95,585 Leapmotor: 57,162 Xiaomi: 36,702 Chery: 34,768 Li Auto: 34,085 HIMA: 32,759 NIO: 29,312 Tesla: 25,956 XPeng: 25,005 #ChinaEV $BYDDY $XIACY $NIO $TSLA $XPEV #CNEVdata