20 articles in Hydrogen Vehicles
Modern hydrogen vehicles use fuel cells that produce electricity from hydrogen, while HHO systems burn hydrogen directly in modified combustion engines. Each approach has unique advantages.
The Toyota Mirai is the benchmark hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, offering 402 miles of range, 3-minute refueling, and zero tailpipe emissions beyond water vapor.
The Hyundai NEXO is a capable hydrogen fuel cell SUV with 380-mile range, advanced ADAS features, and a practical crossover form factor that appeals to mainstream buyers.
A hydrogen fuel cell converts the chemical energy of hydrogen directly to electricity through an electrochemical reaction — essentially electrolysis in reverse.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and battery EVs both aim to decarbonize transportation, but they excel in different use cases. Here's the honest comparison.
As of 2024, the US has approximately 60 public hydrogen fueling stations, concentrated almost entirely in California. Here's the current map and expansion plans.
The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell pioneered segment features like vehicle-to-grid power export and a roomy five-passenger cabin in a hydrogen sedan — though production ended in 2021.
Burning hydrogen directly in modified internal combustion engines offers a lower-cost path to hydrogen transportation than fuel cells, with near-zero emissions and excellent performance.
Green hydrogen — produced by electrolyzing water using renewable electricity — offers a pathway to truly carbon-neutral hydrogen fuel, but current costs remain a challenge.
BMW's Hydrogen 7 was a bi-fuel 7 Series luxury sedan that could run on either liquid hydrogen or gasoline — a remarkable engineering achievement from 2006–2007.
Rail is one of the most promising early adopters of hydrogen fuel cell technology, with commercial hydrogen trains already operating in Europe and Asia.
Aviation accounts for 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions. Hydrogen-powered aircraft — using fuel cells or direct combustion — are advancing faster than most people realize.
Shipping produces 2.9% of global CO₂ emissions. Hydrogen and ammonia fuel cells are emerging as viable alternatives to bunker fuel for large ocean-going vessels.
The Toyota Mirai is the world's most commercially successful hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Here's what owners actually experience in daily driving.
Not all hydrogen vehicles use fuel cells. BMW and Toyota are developing hydrogen combustion engines — burning H₂ directly like gasoline but with near-zero carbon emissions.
The Hyundai Nexo brings hydrogen fuel cell technology to the SUV segment — appealing to a broader audience than the sedan-focused Toyota Mirai.
Honda's Clarity Fuel Cell was lease-only and limited to California. Honda's hydrogen learnings are now feeding into future hydrogen products for the 2030s.
Classic cars with carbureted engines and no emissions equipment are ideal HHO candidates — simpler installation and no sensor conflicts mean direct fuel economy improvements.
Emergency vehicles idle for hours daily while running high electrical loads. HHO supplementation in idle-reduction programs shows significant fleet fuel savings.
The hydrogen vehicle market has expanded beyond Toyota and Hyundai. In 2025, commercial trucks, buses, and new passenger vehicle programs are bringing hydrogen into the mainstream.