Hydrogen-powered cars are hitting the road with big promises

The enthusiastic boosters of hydrogen fuel cells describe them as the future of automotive innovation, claiming they hold the key to a clean lifestyle.  

But consumers are not yet buying into the technology in large numbers. 

As one of the most power-dense sources on earth, the lightweight and abundant element may hold the power to completely revolutionize the way humans utilize energy. Many engineers at various companies claim they are making continuous improvements and implementations of this technology which is slowly making its way into society with their several commercial FCEVs (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) and transportation capabilities.  

As consumers seek environmentally-friendly transportation solutions, electric vehicles have been a preferred strategy. But the methods used to harvest materials for the massive batteries used in EVs are still extremely damaging to the environment. So damaging in fact, the overall carbon footprint of an EV can sometimes undercut the purpose of the electric vehicle entirely.  

This is where hydrogen fuel cells come into play. Discovered in 1839 by physicist Sir William Robert Grove, the idea for a hydrogen-based engine was developed but never executed. Then in the early 1930s Francis Thomas Bacon engineered the first functional hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell. That breakthrough technology would eventually be used by NASA in the 1960s to power the Apollo spacecraft.  

The first generation of commercial FCEVs were released in 2002 in Japan and the USA with Toyota’s FCHV and Honda’s FCX models. However, these vehicles were strictly limited to a select few due to the lack of fueling infrastructure and high costs. The real beginning really started a decade later in 2013 with Hyundai’s ix35 FCEV or more commonly known as the Tucsan FCEV. This was the world’s first breakthrough within the field and was the first FCEV to be mass produced and globally sold. Although sales were limited, this was progress that no other company was able to achieve with hydrogen fuel cells.  

The most promising model by far is the 2025 Hyundai Nexo, the best performing FCEV ever. It was released in June of 2025, and within the first three months sold nearly 7000 units, surpassing the first-generation model by nearly 450%.  

Consumers are not yet flocking to the new technology in Canada. As of mid-2025 only approximately 321 FCEVs were reported in operation within the country.  

“It’s not hard to understand why the Mirai is a tough sell, though. It’s a pure hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, so it’s entirely dependent on being filled with hydrogen…Hydrogen stations are still limited to a handful of areas,” Joel Stocksdale wrote on Carbuzz. 

The strongest markets globally have been China, Japan and South Korea, leading the world in FCEV sales. Globally, around 4000 vehicles were sold in 2025, a decline compared to many years in the past. 

The global FCEV market has been on the decline ever since its peak in 2022. Within the first half of 2025, sales fell another 27% to 4,102 units compared to 5,635 during 2024 and just above 20,000 in 2022. However, this is mainly due to a slow in new infrastructure within Japan and South Korea which is expected to pick up the pace in the following years.  

FCEVs are reportedly good performing vehicles with smooth handling. Many models such as the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo have ranges similar to many gas-powered cars. While Toyota claims that the Mirai should be able to travel 402 miles on a, testing by Edmunds shows that their range estimates can be overly optimistic.  

Hydrogen fuel cells perform extremely well in the cold—an issue that plagues battery-powered vehicles. Cedric Herbreteau, the director of clean energy at Dover Fueling Solutions says that, “The latest generation of fuel cell vehicles demonstrates remarkable resilience in sub-zero temperatures, with performance remaining stable down to -30°C.” Lithium batteries however, have reduced efficiency in colder weather, which in northern countries like Canada can be a massive issue. At -10°C, battery range can drop by 40%. This means FCEVs may be a better solution for cold climates.  

Currently, little accessibility to hydrogen fuel is a huge limiting factor, but where hydrogen fuel stations exist, costs are low. A standard FCEV only costs around $10 CAD per kg, or $70 CAD for a full tank which should provide up to 600 km of range. 

Canada is continuously expanding their hydrogen network, with approximately 80-low carbon hydrogen production projects as of May 2024. The Canadian Government projects significant growth after 2030, and a full implementation of a new energy system by the year 2050. But as of now, the focus is on overall infrastructure and slowly blending hydrogen within the natural gas system. Due to how new these stations are, only certain cities across BC have pumps available to the general public. Vancouver, Burnaby, and North Vancouver are the only three cities in British Columbia with available pumps. These are incorporated within standard gas stations like Shell and Esso. The lack of pumps elsewhere make long trips a tricky proposition and is a major limiting factor.  

Most FCEVs use a similar form of fuel cell technology, mainly consisting of a process that strips the hydrogen of its electrons to harvest their energy. The hydrogen is funneled through a catalyst where it divides the individual hydrogen atoms into electrons and protons. The protons are moved elsewhere into a cathode as the electrons are then filtered through an external circuit which harvests the electricity. The leftover electrons are finally moved into the cathode with the previously split protons. They then combine with oxygen from the air to form H2O or water vapour as its only biproduct. 

While engines run clean, production of the engines such as mining and refining the necessary metals and minerals can still be damaging to the environment. 

The production of the hydrogen fuel itself can vary in its environmental impact. When hydrogen is produced, there are three distinct categories. The worst out of the three is grey hydrogen, utilizing fossil fuels which releases large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere during production. Similarly, blue hydrogen consists of the same process. However, produced is captured and stored which minimizes environmental harm but is still not a permanent solution.  

The cleanest option is green hydrogen, which uses clean renewable energy sources such as wind and solar to split water through a process called electrolysis. This process is completely environment friendly with little to no harmful impacts, meaning hydrogen fuel cells have the potential to leave almost no carbon footprint. This option is considerably more expensive, but governments like Canada who are looking to widely adopt this technology, still aim to prioritize the less damaging options and significantly lower carbon emissions across the country. 

Despite the scarcity of fuel pumps, these FCEVs are still viable for some. And as fuel becomes more widely available, along with further advancements especially with the awaited 2026, Hyundai Nexo, manufacturers hope more people will begin to make the switch.  

Featured image: Hyundai Motor Group – Pexels