Rajan Wilcox
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are vehicles that use hydrogen as their energy source. They are related to electric cars but differ in that they are powered by a fuel-cell stack, not a large, heavy battery. Hydrogen fuel cell cars have been available for sale since 2015, with the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, the Hyundai Nexo SUV, and the
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Range | 300-400 miles |
| Refuelling time | 5 minutes |
| Fuel | Hydrogen |
| Fuel efficiency | 38% |
| Fuel cost | Higher than gasoline |
| Fuel economy rating | 67 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe) |
| Fuel tank safety | Gaseous form in thick-walled tanks |
| Tank capacity | 700 Bar (10000 PSI) |
| Emissions | Zero tailpipe emissions |
| By-product | Water vapour |
| Models available | Toyota Mirai, Hyundai Nexo, Honda CR-V e:FCEV |
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What You'll Learn
- Hydrogen fuel cell cars have a range of 300-400 miles
- The 2025 Toyota Mirai has an EPA-estimated range of 402 miles
- Hydrogen cars can go twice as far as conventional cars on the same amount of fuel
- Hydrogen fuel cell cars are eligible for a rebate from California's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project
- Hydrogen cars are far less efficient than electric cars
Hydrogen fuel cell cars have a range of 300-400 miles
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are a type of electric car. They are powered by compressed hydrogen gas, which passes through a membrane to combine with oxygen from the air, producing electricity to power the car's electric motor. This electricity then powers the car's electric motors. Hydrogen fuel cell cars have zero tailpipe emissions, and the only waste produced is pure water vapour.
The Toyota Mirai, the best-selling hydrogen car in the US, has an EPA-estimated driving range of 402 miles. The 2021 model has an extended driving range of around 650km (404 miles) with no emissions other than water. The Honda CR-V e:FCEV has a range of 241 miles from the fuel cell, with an additional 29 miles provided by its battery. The three hydrogen cars sold in recent years all have EPA-rated ranges of 300 miles or more.
Although hydrogen fuel cell cars have the advantage of longer ranges than electric cars, they are far less efficient. A 2021 assessment by CleanTechnica found that the vast majority of hydrogen being produced is polluting grey hydrogen, and delivering it would require building a vast and expensive new infrastructure. The remaining advantages of fuel cell vehicles – longer range and fast fuelling times – are being eroded by improving battery and charging technology.
In addition, hydrogen fuel cell cars are currently more expensive than comparable e-cars with batteries or internal combustion engines. This is partly because industrialization in production is not yet fully developed, and also because of the high demand for platinum. However, leasing packages for hydrogen fuel cell cars often include fuel, service, and maintenance, which can make the total cost of ownership comparable to conventional cars.
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The 2025 Toyota Mirai has an EPA-estimated range of 402 miles
The Toyota Mirai is a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, or HFCV. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are related to electric cars but are powered by a fuel cell stack. In this stack, hydrogen combines with oxygen from the air to produce electricity, powering the car.
The Mirai is part of Toyota's Beyond Zero vision, which aims to reach carbon neutrality with its products, services, and operations. The Mirai is a zero tailpipe-emissions vehicle, with water vapour as its only by-product. This makes it much more environmentally friendly than traditional combustion engines.
The Mirai's fuel cell is rated at 90 kW (120 horsepower). Toyota adds a high-voltage, low-capacity battery to assist with acceleration, similar to those in gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles. This battery is recharged by excess fuel-cell output or via regenerative braking. The Mirai's hydrogen fuel tanks are rigorously tested and proven to meet Global Technical Regulation No. 13.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have faced criticism due to the limited hydrogen infrastructure and the efficiency of hydrogen as a fuel. However, Toyota is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility and has been a part of the cultural fabric in the US for over 65 years.
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Hydrogen cars can go twice as far as conventional cars on the same amount of fuel
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) are powered by a fuel-cell stack, where pure hydrogen (H2) passes through a membrane to combine with oxygen (O2) from the air, producing electricity that turns the wheels and water vapour. Hydrogen fuel cell cars have a longer range than conventional cars, and can go twice as far on the same amount of fuel.
The Toyota Mirai, for example, has an EPA-estimated driving range rating of 402 miles, with no tailpipe emissions other than water vapour. The latest generation of the Mirai, launched in 2021, has an extended driving range of around 650 km. The Honda Clarity, produced from 2016 to 2021, had a combined city/highway rating of 67 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe) and 68 MPGe in city driving. The Honda CR-V e:FCEV, which became available in 2024, has a range of 241 miles from the fuel cell, with an additional 29 miles provided by its large battery.
Despite the longer range of hydrogen fuel cell cars, critics doubt whether hydrogen will be efficient or cost-effective for automobiles compared to other zero-emission technologies. Hydrogen vehicles are currently only 38% efficient, while battery electric vehicles are 80-95% efficient. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are also more expensive than comparable conventional cars, although leasing packages can make the total cost of ownership comparable.
The expansion of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure is another challenge for the adoption of hydrogen fuel cell cars. As of 2020, there were fewer than 50 hydrogen fuelling stations for automobiles in the US. However, studies in Germany have shown that an infrastructure with electric charging and hydrogen refuelling stations is cheaper overall than a pure electric charging infrastructure. Initiatives such as the Clean Energy Partnership are working to drive the expansion of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.
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Hydrogen fuel cell cars are eligible for a rebate from California's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project
Hydrogen fuel cell cars have a longer range than electric vehicles. However, critics have questioned whether hydrogen fuel cell cars will be efficient or cost-effective for the passenger vehicle market. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are eligible for a rebate from California's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP). The CVRP offered up to $7,500 to purchase or lease a new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), battery electric vehicle (BEV), or a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). The CVRP was a first-come, first-served program that aimed to put the cleanest vehicles on California roads by reducing the initial cost of advanced technologies through consumer rebates.
California has other programs that offer rebates or grants for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) administers the Drive Clean! Rebate Program, which provides rebates of up to $3,000 for the purchase or lease of eligible new vehicles, including hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The Energy Infrastructure Incentives for Zero-Emission Commercial Vehicles (EnergIIZE) program, funded by the California Energy Commission, offers grants for the purchase and installation of ZEV infrastructure for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. The El Dorado County Air Quality Management District (EDC AQMD) offers rebates of up to $599 for the purchase or lease of a new zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) or partial-ZEV. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District's (BAAQMD) Clean Cars for All program offers grants of up to $12,000 to income-eligible residents to replace an eligible vehicle with an electric vehicle, hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), or FCEV.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will also establish the Zero Emission Assurance Project (ZAP) to offer rebates for the replacement of a battery, fuel cell, or other related vehicle components for eligible used ZEVs and near-ZEVs. A ZEV is a vehicle that produces no criteria pollutants, toxic air contaminants, or greenhouse gas emissions when stationary or operating, while a near-ZEV is a vehicle that uses zero-emission technologies or provides a pathway to zero-emission operations. The CARB must offer ZAP rebates through July 31, 2025.
While hydrogen fuel cell cars have the advantage of longer ranges, there are concerns about the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen as a fuel for passenger vehicles. There is also limited hydrogen infrastructure, with fewer than fifty hydrogen fueling stations publicly available in the US as of 2020.
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Hydrogen cars are far less efficient than electric cars
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are far less efficient than electric cars. This is due to a variety of factors, including cost, fuel efficiency, and the current lack of infrastructure for hydrogen vehicles.
Firstly, hydrogen cars are more expensive than electric cars. The two mainstream hydrogen cars on sale in the US, the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo, start at around $50,000 and $60,000, respectively. In comparison, a growing number of EVs cost less, thanks to the falling price of lithium-ion batteries. Research by Paltsev and his students at MIT found that the total cost of ownership for hydrogen vehicles was about 10% more than for EVs. This is largely due to the high cost of hydrogen fuel, which has historically been priced at about $20 per kilogram but has recently been as high as $36 per kilogram in some areas.
Secondly, hydrogen vehicles are less fuel-efficient than electric cars. Assessments since 2020 have found that hydrogen vehicles are only 38% efficient, while battery EVs are 80-95% efficient. This is because hydrogen vehicles use energy twice: first to create hydrogen gas and then to power the vehicle. In contrast, electric vehicles use electrical energy directly from the grid to charge their batteries and power the vehicle.
Thirdly, hydrogen vehicles lack the necessary infrastructure for refueling. As of 2023, there were fewer than 50 hydrogen refueling stations in the US and only about 1000+ globally. In comparison, electric cars can be charged at home or at one of the many fast-charging stations available. Building a new hydrogen refueling infrastructure would be costly and time-consuming.
While hydrogen cars do have some advantages, such as faster fueling times and longer ranges, these are being eroded by improving battery and charging technology for EVs. Therefore, it is clear that hydrogen cars are far less efficient than electric cars in terms of cost, fuel efficiency, and infrastructure.
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Frequently asked questions
The range of a fuel cell car depends on the make and model. The 2025 Toyota Mirai has an EPA-estimated driving range of 402 miles, while the Honda CR-V e:FCEV has a range of 241 miles from the fuel cell, plus 29 miles from the battery, for a total range of 270 miles. The three hydrogen cars sold in recent years all have EPA-rated ranges of 300 miles or more.
Fuel cell cars have been found to travel about twice as far as conventional cars on an equivalent amount of fuel.
Fuel cell cars have longer ranges than electric cars, but this advantage is being eroded by improving battery and charging technology.
The first fuel cell car ever produced was the Honda Clarity, which was available from 2016 to 2021. Its range is unknown.
The Toyota Mirai is the best-selling hydrogen car in the US. The latest generation, launched in 2021, has a range of around 650 km or 402 miles.
