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BMW To Test Its iX5 Hydrogen Model In The Middle East
In spring 2023, BMW will debut the small-series hydrogen-powered demonstrator vehicle with a view to enabling carbon-free mobility in the region.
The BMW Group has begun the manufacture of a small-series hydrogen-powered car, known as the iX5 Hydrogen model, with work taking place at the firm’s Munich Research and Innovation Centre.
The car will be the first Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) to feature this futureproof fuel source after a successful round of intense hydrogen fuel cell testing in demanding conditions. Once ready, the iX5 Hydrogen will head to the Middle East in the spring of 2023, where it will become a technology demonstrator of carbon-free mobility.
As for the car itself, the iX5 Hydrogen features an electric motor and high-performance battery positioned in the rear axle, using the same BMW eDrive technology that can also be found in the company’s electric and plug-in hybrid models.
Across the Middle East, clean energy adoption has become a strategic priority, with several countries aiming for net-zero emissions targets by 2050. As part of a more significant push into alternative energy sources, the region aims to capture a large portion of the global hydrogen market.
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“Hydrogen is a versatile energy source that has a key role to play as we progress towards climate neutrality,” says Frank Weber, board member of BMW AG.
The charging infrastructure for typical electric vehicles isn’t uniformly spread across the Middle East, where, for obvious reasons, petrol still dominates as a fuel source. BMW’s hydrogen fuel cells are highly desirable in these kinds of scenarios, as they allow faster fueling and longer ranges than a typical EV could achieve.
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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
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The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.