Rajan Wilcox
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are vehicles that use hydrogen as a clean energy source to power electric motors. They are an exciting prospect as they are emission-free and do not suffer from long charging times like electric vehicles. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have been available since 2015, with the introduction of the Toyota Mirai, the first commercially produced dedicated fuel cell electric vehicle. Since then, other car manufacturers have joined the market, including Honda, Hyundai, and BMW. However, the availability of hydrogen fuel cell cars is limited, and they are often only available for lease in select markets. The development and commercialisation of hydrogen fuel cell technology are being advocated by over 100 companies and agencies, including the California Hydrogen Business Council.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hydrogen fuel cell cars availability | Available for sale or lease in California, the sole state with a network of retail hydrogen fueling stations |
| Number of hydrogen-powered vehicles in the U.S. | 17,000 as of mid-2022 |
| Hydrogen fuel cell cars manufacturers | Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, Riversimple, Jaguar Land Rover |
| Hydrogen fuel cell car models | Honda CR-V e:FCEV, Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, Hyundai Nexo SUV, Toyota Mirai, Riversimple's Rasa, Land Rover Defender FCEV |
| Hydrogen fuel cell cars refueling time | Less than 5 minutes |
| Hydrogen fuel cell cars refueling stations in California | Less than 60 |
| Hydrogen refueling stations brought by FASTECH | Over 35 |
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What You'll Learn
- Hydrogen fuel cell cars are available for sale or lease from major automakers
- The Honda CR-V e:FCEV is an upcoming hydrogen fuel cell car
- The Toyota Mirai is a hydrogen fuel cell car available for purchase or lease
- The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell and Hyundai Nexo SUV are other examples of hydrogen-powered cars
- Hydrogen fuel cell cars are related to electric cars but have some key differences
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are available for sale or lease from major automakers
Toyota is the company most devoted to hydrogen power as an alternative to battery-electric vehicles. It has sold roughly 14,300 Mirai sedans in the US and offers both purchase and lease options for its Mirai model. Honda has also entered the market with its 2025 CR-V e:FCEV, which is available for lease in California. Hyundai also offers a hydrogen-powered vehicle, the Nexo.
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are quiet, energy-efficient, produce no emissions, and have a range and performance equivalent to gasoline counterparts. However, the infrastructure for supplying hydrogen to retail outlets is still very thin, and creating a brand-new fueling network from scratch has proven to be expensive and unreliable. As a result, the fuel is much pricier for drivers than gasoline or electricity.
To incentivize purchases, automakers often include three years of complimentary fuel with the sale or lease of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Leasing packages may also include fuel, service, and maintenance, making the total cost of ownership for a fuel cell car comparable to conventional cars. Additionally, fuel cell cars are eligible for rebates and can qualify for the Clean Air Vehicle decal to drive solo in the carpool lanes.
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The Honda CR-V e:FCEV is an upcoming hydrogen fuel cell car
The Honda CR-V e:FCEV is an innovative, emission-free vehicle, now available at select dealerships in California. It combines a cutting-edge fuel cell module with battery plug-in charging, giving drivers the flexibility of emission-free electric driving or hydrogen fuel. The CR-V e:FCEV has a 174-horsepower electric drive motor and an estimated 229 lb-ft of torque, bringing instant acceleration and passing power to every drive.
The Honda CR-V e:FCEV has a 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and it runs Honda's latest infotainment interface. It also comes with a host of standard driver-assistance technology, including blind-spot monitoring, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, and a back-seat reminder. The vehicle has dual high-pressure hydrogen tanks that offer compact energy storage and energy conversion, releasing only water as a by-product.
The Honda CR-V e:FCEV is an important step towards reducing or eliminating driving emissions. By choosing a CR-V e:FCEV, drivers become a vital part of Honda's goal to eliminate all North American tailpipe emissions by 2040.
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The Toyota Mirai is a hydrogen fuel cell car available for purchase or lease
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are available for purchase or lease, though they are currently very rare. As of mid-2022, there were fewer than 17,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles on US roads, and all of them were in California, the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations.
The Toyota Mirai is one such hydrogen fuel cell car available for purchase or lease. It has been on the market since 2015 and is now in its second generation. The Mirai uses an onboard fuel cell to convert hydrogen gas into electricity, which is then routed to a 182-hp electric motor. This results in an impressive EV driving range of up to 402 miles, with zero tailpipe emissions.
The Mirai's interior offers a rich design and plentiful tech, including a 12.3" multimedia touchscreen with smartphone integration features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also comes with a JBL Premium Sound System and a lowered driving position for increased headroom and legroom.
When it comes to purchasing or leasing the Toyota Mirai, there are a few options. The car typically comes with a $15,000 fuel incentive or six years (whichever comes first) of complimentary fuel for purchases, and a $15,000 fuel incentive or three years of complimentary fuel for leases. After buying or leasing the car, customers receive a fuel card to use when filling up.
In terms of safety, the Mirai features a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, providing an audio/visual warning and automatic emergency braking if a collision is detected. It also has a full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control system, which helps maintain a preset distance from the vehicle ahead when set at speeds above 20 mph.
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$129.99 $138.99
The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell and Hyundai Nexo SUV are other examples of hydrogen-powered cars
The Hyundai Nexo is a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) that has been available since 2019. It is currently only available in California due to the limited hydrogen refuelling infrastructure outside of the state. The Nexo has a range of 354-380 miles between refills and can go from 0 to 60 mph in 8.5 seconds. The vehicle features dual-zone automatic climate control, smart cruise control, heated front seats and steering wheel, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment.
Both vehicles offer zero-emissions driving and quick refuelling times compared to battery-electric vehicles. However, the limited availability of hydrogen fuelling stations remains a challenge for the widespread adoption of hydrogen fuel cell cars.
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Hydrogen fuel cell cars are related to electric cars but have some key differences
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are related to electric cars, but there are some key differences. Both types of cars are powered by electricity and have zero tailpipe emissions. However, electric cars run on batteries charged by electrical grids, while hydrogen fuel cell cars use hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity.
Hydrogen fuel cell cars have some advantages over electric cars. They can be refuelled much faster than electric cars, taking just a few minutes to fill up, and they have a longer driving range of around 400 miles before the gas tank becomes empty. Additionally, hydrogen fuel cell cars do not suffer from the same performance issues in cold weather as electric cars.
However, electric cars have several advantages over hydrogen fuel cell cars. Electric cars are widely available and have a larger user base. The infrastructure to support electric cars, such as charging stations, is also more established. Electric cars are also more energy-efficient, utilizing around 80% of the total energy to power the vehicle, compared to the complex processes of converting hydrogen gas into electricity in hydrogen fuel cell cars.
Another disadvantage of hydrogen fuel cell cars is the limited availability of hydrogen fuel. Despite plans to increase the number of hydrogen stations, the current number is less than what was initially envisioned. This limited availability of hydrogen fuel can be a hindrance to the widespread adoption of hydrogen fuel cell cars.
In summary, while hydrogen fuel cell cars share some similarities with electric cars, they also have distinct differences in terms of refueling time, driving range, availability, infrastructure support, and energy efficiency. These factors can influence consumers' decisions when choosing between electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, hydrogen fuel cell cars are available for purchase or lease from major automakers. Since 2015, three hydrogen-powered cars have been offered for sale from three different car companies: the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, the Hyundai Nexo SUV, and the Toyota Mirai.
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are currently only available in California, the sole state with a network of retail hydrogen fueling stations.
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are quiet, very energy efficient, produce no emissions, and have a similar range and performance to their gasoline counterparts. They also lack the charging time problem that EVs have and can be refueled in under five minutes.
