Regan Brown
Hydrogen fuel cars are vehicles that use hydrogen as fuel and are powered by an electric motor. They are classified as e-cars and are considered zero-emission vehicles. As of 2021, there were two hydrogen cars publicly available in select markets: the Toyota Mirai, which has been available since 2014 and is the best-selling hydrogen car in the US, and the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell. Hydrogen fuel cars are available for sale or lease by major automakers in popular vehicle types, including sedans and compact SUVs. As of 2022, there were 17,000 or fewer hydrogen-powered vehicles on US roads, all of which are in California, the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations.
Hydrogen Fuel Cars
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How they work | Hydrogen vehicles generate motive power by converting the chemical energy of hydrogen to mechanical energy, either by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to power electric motors or, less commonly, by hydrogen internal combustion. |
| Fuel | Hydrogen gas |
| Fuel storage | Hydrogen gas is stored in carbon-fiber-reinforced tanks. |
| Fuel availability | As of 2024, there were 53 publicly accessible hydrogen refueling stations in the US, 52 of which were located in California. |
| Fuel efficiency | Hydrogen vehicles can travel about twice as far as a conventional car on an equivalent amount of fuel. |
| Fuel cost | At the pump, hydrogen sells for considerably more than gasoline. |
| Fuel range | Hydrogen vehicles can travel 300-400 miles on a full tank of fuel. |
| Refueling time | It takes around 5 minutes to refuel a hydrogen vehicle, similar to conventional cars. |
| Environmental impact | Hydrogen vehicles are zero-emission vehicles, emitting only water vapour. |
| Safety | Hydrogen vehicles are widely considered as safe as any other car. |
| Models | As of 2021, there were two models of hydrogen cars publicly available in select markets: the Toyota Mirai and the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell. Since then, the Hyundai Nexo SUV has also been offered for sale. |
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What You'll Learn
- Hydrogen fuel cars are available in California
- The Toyota Mirai is the best-selling hydrogen car in the US
- Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota have offered hydrogen-powered cars for sale
- Hydrogen fuel cars are eligible for a rebate from California's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project
- Hydrogen fuel cars are zero-emission vehicles
Hydrogen fuel cars are available in California
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are indeed available in California. The state has been working to set hydrogen fuel on a pathway to an industry of zero carbon emissions, with the California Fuel Cell Partnership including major vehicle manufacturers such as Toyota, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Ford, Audi, and Nissan.
California is aiming to encourage consumers to adopt hydrogen fuel cell electric cars, which are critical to the state's goal of getting 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2025. The California Energy Commission is investing in an initial network of 100 public hydrogen stations across the state to support these vehicles. As of October 2021, there were 52 open retail hydrogen refueling stations in California, with prices ranging from $13.11 to $16.51 per kilogram of hydrogen.
While there are challenges with the limited availability of hydrogen fuel and the high cost of building refueling infrastructure, the number of manufacturers making and selling hydrogen fuel cell vehicles has increased, and prices for these vehicles have come down. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles offer several advantages, including a refuelling time of less than five minutes and zero tailpipe emissions, with only water vapour and heat as byproducts.
California's efforts to promote hydrogen fuel cell technology are part of its larger goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and achieve its climate change goals. The state is also working to expand the use of hydrogen fuel beyond passenger cars to medium and heavy-duty fuel cell electric vehicles, such as trucks and buses.
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The Toyota Mirai is the best-selling hydrogen car in the US
Hydrogen fuel cars are vehicles that use hydrogen as fuel and are often referred to as hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. They are considered zero-emission vehicles as they emit only water vapour. Hydrogen fuel cars are rarer than electric vehicles, with almost three million EVs sold in the US compared to 17,000 or fewer hydrogen-powered vehicles as of mid-2022.
The Mirai has undergone rigorous testing to ensure its safety and durability. It features Toyota's innovative Human Machine Interface (HMI), which uses a 12.3-inch touchscreen to enhance the driver's interaction through sight, touch, and voice activation. The Mirai also comes with various incentives, such as up to $15,000 worth of complimentary hydrogen fuel with purchases or leases.
Despite being the best-selling hydrogen car in the US, the Mirai has some drawbacks. Its acceleration is slower than that of other EVs, and the limited hydrogen refuelling infrastructure means drivers are currently restricted to California. Additionally, trunk space is limited due to the hydrogen tanks underneath the cabin floor. However, the Mirai is still a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions and offers a unique driving experience with its hydrogen fuel technology.
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Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota have offered hydrogen-powered cars for sale
As of 2021, there were two hydrogen cars publicly available in select markets: the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo. The Honda CR-V e:FCEV was also launched in 2025.
Honda
The 2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV is a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. It generates electricity by passing compressed hydrogen gas through a fuel cell stack, turning the fuel's chemical energy into electrical energy that powers the motor. The CR-V e:FCEV carries dual high-pressure hydrogen tanks that offer compact energy storage and can be refuelled in just 3 to 5 minutes at a hydrogen station.
Hyundai
The Hyundai Nexo is a fuel cell vehicle that runs on hydrogen. It is not clear when this vehicle was made available to the public, but it is featured on the Hyundai USA website.
Toyota
The Toyota Mirai has been available since 2014. It is powered by a chemical reaction involving hydrogen and oxygen, which creates electricity. The hydrogen is stored in carbon-fibre-reinforced fuel tanks. Every Mirai comes with $15,000 or 6 years, whichever comes first, of complimentary fuel for purchases, and $15,000 or 3 years of complimentary fuel for leases.
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Hydrogen fuel cars are eligible for a rebate from California's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project
Hydrogen fuel cars are a zero-emissions vehicle option, emitting only water vapour. They are powered by an electric motor and are therefore classified as e-cars. Hydrogen cars are powered purely by electricity and drive with zero local emissions. The driving experience is similar to that of electric cars, with the added benefit of not having long charging times.
As of 2024, there were 53 publicly accessible hydrogen refuelling stations in the US, with 52 of these located in California. This is due to the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP), which 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 helped get the cleanest vehicles on the road in California by providing consumer rebates to reduce the initial cost of advanced technologies.
The CVRP offered vehicle rebates on a first-come, first-served basis to California residents who met income requirements and purchased or leased an eligible vehicle. Rebates were also available for eligible car-share, rental, and public fleets. The project is now closed, but it helped to incentivise the use of hydrogen fuel cars in California.
Hydrogen fuel cars have some drawbacks, including the high carbon emissions produced when hydrogen is sourced from natural gas, the cost of building refuelling infrastructure, and the difficulty of storing and transporting hydrogen due to its small molecule size. However, hydrogen fuel cars have benefits such as reduced reliance on fossil fuels, lower associated greenhouse gas emissions, and less localised air pollution from transportation.
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Hydrogen fuel cars are zero-emission vehicles
However, hydrogen vehicles are much rarer than electric vehicles, with only around 17,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles on US roads as of mid-2022, all of which are in California, the only state with a network of hydrogen fuelling stations. Outside of the US, there are 178 hydrogen filling stations in Europe, with 89 of these in Germany.
Hydrogen fuel cars are powered by an electric motor and are therefore classified as e-cars. They produce electricity themselves, with the hydrogen in the fuel tank converted into electricity, rather than relying on a built-in battery. Hydrogen fuel cells are happiest at a steady power output, which makes them suitable for backup power use. However, this presents a challenge for automotive engineers as the power demands of cars vary. To get around this, some hydrogen cars include a high-voltage low-capacity battery to provide extra power when accelerating.
Hydrogen fuel cars have several advantages over electric vehicles. They lack the charging time problem that EVs have, taking just around five minutes to refuel for another 300-400 mile stint. They are also smooth, quiet, and peaceful to drive, with a driving experience very similar to that of electric cars. Hydrogen technology also has less raw material dependence than battery-electric vehicles.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2024, there were 53 publicly accessible hydrogen refuelling stations in the US, 52 of which were in California. This makes California the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations.
Hydrogen fuel cars are available in other countries, but specific locations are more challenging to find due to the infrastructure requirements for hydrogen in shipping. However, companies like BMW have joined forces with hydrogen producers and filling station operators to expand the infrastructure worldwide.
California has less than 60 hydrogen stations, and you can find the locations of these stations on the Station Status report maintained by the California Fuel Cell Partnership.
