Top 10: Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles

In the past couple of years, alternative road transportation has hit something of an inflection point in the world's major economies.

According to recent data, 50% of new cars sold in China are EVs, while 19% of all cars in use in Europe are electric.

The US is not far behind, with EVs comprising 11% of all cars on the road today.

While the phase-out of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) is progressing promisingly, electrification is not the only solution available to those looking to decarbonise their transportation.

Hydrogen vehicles, which have long been regarded as the very cleanest form of road travel, are gradually becoming a more feasible option.

After several hiccups and hurdles – involving costs, infrastructure, manufacturing and fuel production – hydrogen mobility seems to be on the up.

Hydrogen fuel cell technology has carved out some compelling advantages in commercial transport, long-haul applications and premium segments where rapid refuelling and extended range are the watchword.

Hydrogen power remains a niche, doubtless, but an important and valuable one nonetheless.

In the short term, we're witnessing the steady expansion of refuelling infrastructure in key markets like California, Japan and Germany, alongside growing interest in hydrogen trucks and buses.

Looking further ahead, the convergence of green hydrogen production and improvements to fuel cell technology could position these as a cornerstone of decarbonised heavy transport, potentially reshaping logistics and public transit over the next decade.

10. Hyundai Nexo

CEO: José Muñoz
First released: 2018
Top speed: 111mph
​​​​​​​Range: 414 miles

The Nexo is Hyundai's flagship hydrogen offering and it continues to demonstrate the Korean manufacturer's commitment to fuel cell technology.

Its refined driving dynamics and spacious SUV format make it especially practical for families, while its sophisticated powertrain is capable of swift acceleration and a near-silent operation. 

The vehicle's impressive range alleviates the anxiety often associated with alternative fuel vehicles, and its well-appointed interior rivals conventional premium SUVs.

Hyundai has continually updated the Nexo with over-the-air software improvements, ensuring it remains competitive despite its 2018 debut.

Available primarily in California, South Korea and a select few European markets, it represents hydrogen mobility at its most accessible.

9. BMW iX5 Hydrogen

CEO: Oliver Zipse
First released: 2022
Top speed: 115mph
​​​​​​​Range: 313 miles

BMW's iX5 Hydrogen is the Bavarian manufacturer's first exploratory venture into fuel cell technology, built on the familiar and well-loved X5 model.

What distinguishes this vehicle is its innovative dual-power approach, combining hydrogen fuel cells with a compact battery system that captures energy from regenerative braking.

The car's hybrid architecture makes it a responsive performer and delivers the kind of pedigree that BMW customers have come to expect.

Meanwhile it is able to maintain the environmental credentials of hydrogen propulsion.

Though it is currently produced in limited numbers for pilot programmes rather than mass-market sale, the iX5 is the German maker's testing ground for its future hydrogen offerings.

8. Honda CR-V e:FCEV

CEO: Toshihiro Mibe
First released: 2024
Top speed: 115mph
​​​​​​​Range: 270 miles

Honda's return to the hydrogen market arrives through its latest CR-V e:FCEV, which cleverly bridges fuel cell and battery electric technologies.

The vehicle can be charged conventionally from the mains while also refuelling with hydrogen, offering unprecedented flexibility for drivers.

This dual approach addresses infrastructure concerns head-on, allowing owners to rely on increasingly ubiquitous charging points when hydrogen stations prove elusive.

The CR-V's familiar silhouette makes the advanced technology approachable, and Honda's renowned reliability lends credibility to the complex powertrain.

Though currently limited to California lease programmes, the e:FCEV signals Honda's renewed confidence in hydrogen's viability for passenger vehicles.

7. Hyzon Motors Hyzon-190

CEO: Christian Mohrdieck
First released: 2021
Top speed: 65mph (capped for efficiency)
​​​​​​​Range: 350 miles (standard model), 650+ miles (liquid hydrogen model)

Transitioning into commercial territory, Hyzon Motors' Hyzon-190 represents hydrogen's most promising frontier: heavy goods transport.

This Class 8 truck tackles the central challenge facing long-haul electrification – weight and range limitations of batteries – by employing hydrogen fuel cells that enable substantial payloads without compromising distance capabilities.

The standard model of the Hyzon-190 can achieve ranges of around  while carrying full loads, and refuelling takes mere minutes compared to the hours required for battery charging.

However, despite the prowess of the vehicle, Hyzon Motors is in something of a downward spiral currently.

The firm filed for bankruptcy in mid April 2025, putting the future of the Hyzon-190 in doubt.

6. Kenworth T680 FCEV

CEO: Jim Walenczak
First released: 2024
Top speed: 70mph
​​​​​​​Range: 450 miles

Kenworth's T680 FCEV represents the commercial maturation of hydrogen technology through a partnership between two industry titans.

Built on Kenworth's acclaimed T680 platform and powered by Toyota's proven fuel cell system, this Class 8 tractor demonstrates how established manufacturers are embracing hydrogen for heavy-duty applications.

The truck stores 60kg of compressed hydrogen onboard, feeding Toyota's 310kW dual motor assembly that delivers 415 horsepower continuously at gross combination weights up to 82,000 pounds.

Following successful pilot operations at the Port of Los Angeles where ten prototypes accumulated real-world mileage, Kenworth has positioned this vehicle for regional haul and distribution centre operations, targeting routes where infrastructure currently exists whilst awaiting broader hydrogen corridor development across North America.

5. Ineos Grenadier FCEV

CEO: Sir Jim Ratcliffe
First released: 2024
Top speed: 100mph
​​​​​​​Range: 124 miles (demonstration model), 370 miles (eventual production model)

Ineos has brought hydrogen to the rugged utility vehicle segment with its Grenadier FCEV, proving that fuel cell technology can venture far beyond smooth tarmac.

This adaptation of the company's acclaimed 4x4 maintains the mechanical simplicity and durability the Grenadier is known for while eliminating tailpipe emissions entirely.

The hydrogen powertrain delivers the low-end torque essential for off-road work, and the rapid refuelling capability proves invaluable for commercial users in agriculture, forestry and emergency services.

Ineos' ownership of chemical operations, including hydrogen production facilities, positions the company uniquely to support this vehicle throughout its lifecycle.

The Grenadier FCEV represents hydrogen's expansion into specialist applications.

4. Toyota Mirai (Second Generation)

CEO: Koji Sato
First released: 2020
Top speed: 109mph
​​​​​​​Range: 400 miles

The second-generation Mirai represents Toyota's refinement of nearly three decades of hydrogen research, transforming from the original's quirky styling to a handsome, driver-focused sedan.

Built on the same rear-wheel-drive architecture as the Lexus LS, the Mirai delivers engaging handling characteristics rarely associated with eco-focused vehicles.

Its 400-mile range and five-minute refuelling time make it genuinely practical for daily use, while the sophisticated interior competes convincingly with established luxury marques.

Toyota has strategically priced the Mirai to undercut many premium rivals, currently around US$50,000, though availability remains concentrated in markets with developed hydrogen infrastructure, particularly California and Japan.

3. Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck

CEO: Ola Källenius
First released: 2023
Top speed: 65mph (capped for efficiency)
​​​​​​​Range: 621 miles

Mercedes-Benz's GenH2 represents perhaps the most ambitious hydrogen commercial vehicle programme currently in deployment.

The German manufacturer has eschewed conventional compressed hydrogen storage in favour of liquid hydrogen maintained at -253°C, dramatically increasing energy density and enabling ranges exceeding 621 miles – matching diesel equivalents.

This technological leap required developing entirely new cryogenic tank systems and associated infrastructure, but the rewards are substantial: heavy-duty transport with zero local emissions and no compromise on operational capability.

Mercedes has committed to series production, with major logistics companies including Amazon and Holcim signing deployment agreements.

The GenH2 demonstrates that hydrogen can genuinely replace diesel in the most demanding applications, offering a credible pathway to decarbonising European and North American freight networks over the coming decade.

2. Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell

CEO: José Muñoz
First released: 2020
Top speed: 53mph
​​​​​​​Range: 280 miles

Hyundai's XCIENT has achieved what many thought impossible: genuine commercial-scale deployment of hydrogen trucks.

With more than 600 units operating across Switzerland, Germany and Korea, the XCIENT has accumulated millions of real-world miles, validating hydrogen's readiness for heavy transport.

The truck employs a dual-fuel-cell system generating 350kW, providing the substantial power required for laden operation while maintaining the 250-mile range necessary for regional distribution.

Hyundai's approach has been methodical, establishing comprehensive support infrastructure and partnerships with hydrogen suppliers before expanding deployment.

Customers report operational costs approaching parity with diesel when factoring in Switzerland's heavy vehicle fees and emissions charges.

The XCIENT's success has provided empirical evidence that silenced sceptics, proving hydrogen trucks aren't speculative future technology but present-day reality and its influence on accelerating commercial hydrogen adoption cannot be overstated.

1. Toyota Mirai (First Generation)

CEO: Koji Sato
First released: 2014
Top speed: 111mph
​​​​​​​Range: 312 miles

The original Toyota Mirai earns the top position not necessarily as the finest hydrogen vehicle available today, but as the most significant hydrogen vehicle ever produced.

When Toyota launched the Mirai in late 2014, it represented an audacious gamble: bringing fuel cell technology from laboratory curiosity to consumer showrooms.

Priced initially around US$57,000, it made hydrogen mobility accessible beyond experimental fleets and its arrival catalysed infrastructure investment across Japan, California and Europe.

The Mirai proved that fuel cells could deliver reliability comparable to conventional vehicles – early models have surpassed 180,000 miles with minimal degradation.

While its styling polarised opinion and its range of approximately 312 miles seems modest by current standards, the first-generation Mirai deserves recognition as the vehicle that legitimised hydrogen passenger cars.

Without Toyota's pioneering commitment, the broader hydrogen vehicle market documented in this list might never have materialised. The Mirai didn't just introduce a new powertrain – it introduced an alternative vision for automotive decarbonisation.