Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars 2024: Benefits, Drawbacks, and Market Outlook

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Home Car Advice Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars: Pros and Cons in 2024

With so much attention on electric vehicles (EVs), it’s easy to forget about hydrogen fuel cell cars. The Hyundai Nexo and Toyota Mirai continue to be marketed for sale, though only in California. Honda recently revealed its 2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV, a plug-in electric vehicle and fuel cell combo SUV with an EPA range of 270 miles. BMW unveiled its iX5 hydrogen fuel cell SUV, but it’s only a concept for now.

The IIHS gave the 2022 Hyundai Nexo a Top Safety Pick+ rating, its highest safety score. IIHS did not rate the Toyota Mirai. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) did not test either vehicle.  

Let’s look at other advantages and disadvantages of these niche alternative fuel vehicles.

• Zero tailpipe emissions.
• 5-minute refueling time similar to gasoline vehicles.
• Weather affects range less than EVs, with carmakers like BMW saying not at all.
• Instant torque. 
• HOV lanes access with DMV Clean Air Vehicle sticker.
• Incentives for purchasing (up to $4,500 in California) and refueling (manufacturers cover refueling costs up to $15,000 for six years, or three years with a lease).
• Good range (Nexo: 380-mile range; Mirai 402-mile range). 
• Minimal maintenance needs and solid manufacturer warranties.

Cons

• These vehicles are only available in California.
• Limited infrastructure. As of this writing, about 54 hydrogen refueling stations exist in California, mostly in the Los Angeles and San Francisco regions. Shell recently closed 7 public hydrogen fuel stations, amounting to 12% of the total. According to the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership, many hydrogen fuel pumps are out of service. This further cuts the number of refueling options.
• More energy- and labor-intensive to store and transport hydrogen than gasoline or diesel fuel.
• Fuel cells are expensive to replace.
• Safety concerns over hydrogen flammability and electrical shock.
• Maintenance costs remain unclear.
• Potential for high costs to refuel when manufacturer incentives run out.
• The unknown future for these automobiles.

Read Related Articles

• How Do Electric Car Tax Credits Work in 2024?
• What Is a Hydrogen Fuel Cell?
• Electric Car Rebates and Incentives: What To Know by State

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  Renee Valdes is an experienced journalist and editor. During her career, she became fascinated by consumer spending, its impact on the economy, how fluctuating interest rates affect buying power, how to afford big-ticket purchases like cars, and more. Renee brings to the position her consumer, retail, automotive, and breaking news experience from CNN, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, TF1-French Television, and other outlets. Renee holds a master’s in journalism from American University and a bachelor’s in business from Marymount University.

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