6 Hydrogen-Powered Cars You May Not Know About

Electric cars are increasing in popularity due to global governments pushing consumers to move away from traditional combustion engines and convert to this technology. Electric technology is known for its low carbon emissions and more positive environmental effects, and for countries to hit their greenhouse gas goals by 2030, the uptake of electric vehicles is incredibly important. From the development of electric cars comes a newer, more efficient fuel source: hydrogen. 

Hydrogen-powered cars only produce water vapor from their tailpipe, making them just as environmentally friendly as EVs, and they are more time-efficient for consumers as they only take a few minutes to charge up. They also use specific manufacturing methods, such as solar power or biological hydrogen cell production, to produce these cars. This makes the manufacturing process and the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles low in carbon emissions and safe for the planet. So, if you are investing in such sustainable technology, here are six of the best hydrogen-powered cars on the market. 

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Honda CR-V e: FCEV

Honda has always been a big name in sustainable technology for vehicles and was an early player in hydrogen-powered cars, as it released FCX in 2002. It was the first hydrogen-powered vehicle to be legalized in the United States. But now they have taken that technology and created the CR-V e: FCEV, which is a hydrogen-powered version of the CR-V, a best-selling Honda SUV. This SUV has a plug-in battery and hydrogen fuel cell installed and can produce a 270-mile driving range. While the driving range is less than that of other vehicles, it is a small SUV that is heavier than sedans or saloon cars. It has 174 horsepower and is an excellent environmentally-friendly option for families or consumers who like extra vehicle space. 

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NamX HUV

While the name may not be familiar to many people, the NamX comes with a wealth of great features. It is a hydrogen-powered SUV (HUV) produced by a small Moroccan-French start-up company.  In an effort to blend style with performance, NamX has collaborated with Pininfarina. The most exciting feature of this SUV is the potable “CapX” hydrogen capsules, which allow instant refueling, thus removing the problem of the limited charging infrastructure available for hydrogen-powered cars. It has up to 500 miles driving range due to two hydrogen capsules installed within it and can produce up to 300 horsepower. It is stylish, powerful, and economical, something every consumer wants in their vehicle. 

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Renault Scenic Vision

While the next car is not yet available to buy, it is still an interesting release from the French automaker Renault. European companies are quickly catching up with Japanese and American businesses, which are frontrunners in hydrogen technology. Like every company, Renault has created its version of a hydrogen-powered vehicle, which includes a battery that uses hydrogen fuel cells as a range extender. Together, the two pieces of technology will give a predicted range of 500 miles. Wow. Also, since eco-conscious material was used for the powertrain, Renault has extended that way of thinking throughout the vehicle. It is composed of 70% recycled material and is 95% recyclable. If this car eventually goes into production, it is sure to be a best-seller for Renault. 

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Toyota GR Yaris H2

When talking about Japanese companies being at the forefront of automotive technology, you are really talking about Toyota. Its crowning glory is the Mirai, which is most likely the world’s best-known, top hydrogen-powered car. It completed the record for the longest distance on one full hydrogen tank. However, the Mirai is not the only hydrogen-powered car that they have produced. The GR Yaris H2 was created as a hydrogen-powered race car based on traditional hydrogen combustion rather than more modern fuel cells. So far, this car has not completed in any competitive races, but it did give a demonstration at the World Rally Championship, so if you are interested in racing, watch this space. 

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Hyundai N Vision 74

As hydrogen-powered cars are primarily marketed as being environmentally favorable and economically excellent, they rarely possess the x-factor that other traditional vehicles may have. However, Hyundai, along with other companies, has changed this with the N-Vision sportscar. Its exterior design was modeled on the 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe. It uses a combination of batteries and hydrogen fuel cells within its powertrain. Between the battery and hydrogen cells, it can reach a top speed of 150 mph and a top distance of 375 miles. All these figures look great, and it aesthetically looks great. What’s not to like? 

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Mercedes-Benz F-Cell

It is not widely known that Mercedes-Benz actually has a hydrogen power line for vehicles. But unfortunately, they decided their future efforts were better elsewhere. It was finished in 2021 with a final release called the GLC F-Cell. These cars were released in Europe only and were never released in America. Mercedes-Benz cited that the cost of producing the line was the main reason they went in another direction. They stated that electric technology was a better fit for the sustainability goals of the company. Hopefully, they will return to hydrogen-powered technology in the future. It would be exciting to see what a major automotive player like Mercedes could produce.