Sylvie Willis
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are already available in some markets, with the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo on sale in the US and UK. However, the widespread adoption of hydrogen cars is dependent on several factors, including the availability of green hydrogen and the development of infrastructure for refuelling. Hydrogen fuel cells are also expensive to produce, requiring rare substances such as platinum. Despite these challenges, some car manufacturers remain optimistic about the potential of hydrogen fuel cells, with BMW announcing the launch of its first hydrogen-powered car in 2028.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles availability | As of 2025, there are two hydrogen fuel cell car models available in the US and the UK: the Hyundai Nexo and the Toyota Mirai. |
| Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles refueling time | Refueling with hydrogen takes around 3-5 minutes and offers a range of 300 to 400 miles. |
| Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles price | The Hyundai Nexo and the Toyota Mirai cost around $58,000 to buy or $385 a month to lease. In the UK, prices start at £60,000. |
| Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles production | Hydrogen fuel cells are expensive to produce due to the use of rare substances such as platinum as a catalyst. |
| Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles infrastructure | The availability of hydrogen fuel is a challenge. As of 2024, there were 53 publicly accessible hydrogen refueling stations in the US, with 52 in California. California is the only state with a long-distance hydrogen network. |
| Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles efficiency | Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are efficient in storing and transporting renewable energy. However, the process of producing hydrogen and converting it into electricity is inherently inefficient, resulting in energy losses. |
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What You'll Learn
- Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are currently available in select markets
- Hydrogen fuel cells are expensive to produce
- Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are zero-emission vehicles
- Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are currently inconvenient due to poor refuelling infrastructure
- Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are similar to battery-electric vehicles in driving experience
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are currently available in select markets
In the UK, the Mirai and Nexo are also available to buy, but only by special order, with prices starting at around £60,000 and waiting times of several months.
The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell is another hydrogen-powered car that has been offered for sale, although it is unclear in which markets it is available.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have several advantages over traditional petrol or diesel cars and battery-electric vehicles. They are zero-emission vehicles, emitting only water vapour, and they lack the charging time problem of EVs, taking a similar time to refuel as petrol or diesel cars and offering a range of 300 to 400 miles. They are also smooth, quiet, and pleasant to drive.
However, there are several disadvantages to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, the most significant being the availability of hydrogen fuel and the reliability of the refuelling infrastructure. Hydrogen is difficult to store and transport due to its small molecule size, and the production of hydrogen fuel currently relies on fossil fuels, which can result in higher emissions than some gasoline cars. Hydrogen fuel cells are also relatively expensive to produce, as their designs require rare substances such as platinum, and the cars themselves are currently more expensive than comparable e-cars with batteries or internal combustion engines.
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Hydrogen fuel cells are expensive to produce
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are available now, but they are not common. As of 2021, there were two models of hydrogen cars publicly available in select markets: the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo. However, as of mid-2022, there were 17,000 or fewer hydrogen-powered vehicles on U.S. roads, and these were all in California, the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations.
The high cost of hydrogen fuel is another factor that makes hydrogen fuel cells expensive to produce. In California in 2024, hydrogen retailed for approximately $14 per gallon, which is roughly three times higher than the fuel cost per mile of a gasoline hybrid and twice that of a conventional gasoline vehicle. However, hydrogen advocates argue that the high fuel economy of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) helps to keep FCV fuelling costs competitive with gasoline-fuelled vehicles.
The cost of hydrogen fuel is expected to decrease in the future. Experts suggest that within ten years, hydrogen fuel will be cost-competitive with traditional fuel sources. This is because the costs of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and water, which are used for green hydrogen production, are falling. In addition, as carbon dioxide emissions standards become more stringent, governments may offer subsidies to incentivise clean energy growth, which could reduce costs.
Furthermore, as production scales up, the price of hydrogen is expected to fall significantly. This is because major oil producers are reducing their production levels, which will likely raise gasoline and diesel prices for consumers. In contrast, the price of green hydrogen is already falling. By 2050, green hydrogen is projected to be less expensive than natural gas.
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Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are zero-emission vehicles
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) are zero-emission vehicles that emit only water vapour as waste. They are similar to electric vehicles (EVs) in many ways, but they are much rarer. As of mid-2022, there were 17,000 or fewer hydrogen-powered vehicles on US roads, all in California, the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations.
HFCVs have some of the same benefits as battery-electric cars: they are smooth, quiet, and peaceful to drive. They also lack the charging time problem that EVs have, as refuelling typically takes just five minutes for another 300- to 400-mile stint. However, the availability of hydrogen fuel is a significant challenge. While California had nearly 60 hydrogen stations as of 2023, this number is not growing, and the stations are not always available for fuelling.
Hydrogen fuel cells are relatively expensive to produce, as their designs require rare substances, such as platinum, as a catalyst. However, researchers are working on new catalyst technologies that use less platinum, which could decrease costs. Increased production volumes of hydrogen technology for various applications may also help to reduce costs.
Despite the challenges, HFCVs have the potential to be a key part of sustainable mobility. Hydrogen is one of the most efficient ways to store and transport renewable energy, and it can be produced anywhere with access to electricity and water. BMW, for example, has announced the 2028 launch of its first hydrogen-powered fuel-cell electric car, the iX5 Hydrogen, describing hydrogen cars as the "missing piece" in sustainable mobility.
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Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are currently inconvenient due to poor refuelling infrastructure
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) are an exciting prospect for the future of motoring, offering a clean, zero-emission driving experience. However, at present, they suffer from a lack of refuelling infrastructure, which makes them inconvenient for most drivers.
As of 2024, there were only 53 publicly accessible hydrogen refuelling stations in the entire US, with 52 of these located in California. This is despite plans from a decade ago to have 100 stations in California by this point. The state is the only one in the US with a long-distance hydrogen network, and while the network is growing, it is still tiny. This limited infrastructure means that drivers have to carefully plan their routes to ensure they can refuel when necessary, which is a significant inconvenience.
The situation is similar in the UK, where there are only two hydrogen car models available to buy, both of which must be specially ordered with long wait times. While the UK does not rely on a single region for its hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in the same way the US does, the small number of cars and refuelling stations still presents a challenge for drivers considering an HFCV.
The lack of refuelling infrastructure is a significant barrier to the wider adoption of HFCVs. While the technology offers many benefits, the inconvenience of the current refuelling situation means that, for now, HFCVs are only a realistic option for a small minority of drivers.
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Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are similar to battery-electric vehicles in driving experience
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) are similar to battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in the driving experience. HFCVs have some of the same positive features as BEVs: they're smooth, quiet, and peaceful to drive. They also emit no carbon dioxide or other harmful exhaust from their tailpipes, just water vapour. HFCVs also lack the charging time problem that BEVs have; it takes just five minutes or so to refuel them for another 300- to 400-mile stint.
In practice, the driver of an HFCV will find the experience almost identical to driving a BEV, though perhaps not one of the faster ones. There's no transmission, and the car includes regenerative braking to recapture wasted energy as it slows down. The challenge for automotive engineers is that hydrogen fuel cells are happiest at a steady power output. That’s what makes them suitable for backup power use, for instance. But the power demands in the average car vary by an order of magnitude, from something like 15 kilowatts (20 horsepower) to keep a vehicle at a steady highway speed on a flat road, to perhaps 10 or 20 times that amount for maximum acceleration to 60 mph or higher.
The fuel cell in the Toyota Mirai, the best-selling hydrogen car in the U.S., is rated at 90 kW (120 horsepower). However, that's not enough to accelerate onto a fast-moving highway, so Toyota (as do other HFCV makers) adds in a high-voltage low-capacity battery, very similar to those used in BEVs. HFCVs have the same high-voltage battery packs as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or BEV, but they also have one or more armoured, carbon-fibre tanks to hold pure hydrogen under extremely high pressure.
HFCVs are fuelled with pure hydrogen gas stored in a tank on the vehicle. They can fuel in about five minutes and have a driving range of more than 300 miles, similar to BEVs. FCEVs use a propulsion system similar to that of BEVs, where energy stored as hydrogen is converted to electricity by the fuel cell. Hydrogen is considered an alternative fuel under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and qualifies for alternative fuel vehicle tax credits.
While HFCVs and BEVs have many similarities, there are some key differences. HFCVs are more expensive than BEVs due to the industrialization of production not being fully developed and the high demand for platinum, which acts as a catalyst in electricity generation. Additionally, BEVs have the advantage of a vast, nationwide electrical system already in place, while HFCVs face the challenge of limited hydrogen fuel availability.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are currently a few hydrogen fuel cell cars available on the market, including the Hyundai Nexo and the Toyota Mirai. However, they are only available by special order and come with a hefty price tag.
The cost of hydrogen fuel cell cars varies depending on the market, but they typically start at around $58,000 in the US and £60,000 in the UK. Leasing options are also available for around $385 per month.
Hydrogen fuel cell cars offer several benefits, including zero tailpipe emissions, a smooth and quiet driving experience, and a quick refuelling time of just 3 to 5 minutes for a range of 300 to 500 miles.
One of the main drawbacks of hydrogen fuel cell cars is the limited availability of hydrogen fuel. The infrastructure for hydrogen refuelling stations is still being developed, and the stations that do exist may not always be online and available for fuelling.
The future of hydrogen fuel cell cars depends on several factors, including the availability of green hydrogen and the development of more efficient production methods. BMW has announced the 2028 launch of its first hydrogen-powered fuel-cell electric car, indicating that manufacturers have not given up on the technology.
