Car manufacturers say goodbye to hydrogen cars en masse and the number of accompanying gas stations in Europe is also rapidly disappearing. Trust in hydrogen cars now appears to be just as volatile as the stuff itself.
For years, hydrogen was the future as a fuel for car mobility. No fossil raw materials had to be used and only a few drops of water came out of the outlet. Refueling went just as fast as with a petrol car and the range was just as big.
Yet the hydrogen car in more and more places definitively stops. Recently, Stellantis – the parent company of brands such as Opel, Peugeot, Citroën and Fiat – announced that he would stop further investments in hydrogen technology . The production of hydrogen -driven commercial vehicles is also being stopped. According to Stellantis, the decision was taken due to the limited availability of hydrogen filling stations, the required high investments and the lack of sufficient purchase grants for customers.
And fewer hydrogen filling stations
Earlier Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Honda and many other brands also stopped the development of hydrogen. In addition, more and more European oil companies are locking their hydrogen filling stations. This year no fewer than 22 hydrogen filling stations will close in Germany.
Shell closed all his gas stations in the United Kingdom three years ago and recently the Austrian state oil group OMV announced that it is closing all its gas stations for hydrogen. The number of hydrogen filling stations has also been taken in California.
Big future predicted
It didn’t look like that eight years ago. In 2017, research by KPMG showed that 78 percent of the people working in the car industry still thought that the hydrogen car would become the standard. Around 62 percent was convinced at the time that the electric car would not be anything. The Netherlands now has nearly 600,000 battery-electric vehicles. There are 630 on hydrogen.
“Hydrogen is particularly affected by the chicken egg story,” says Freek de Bruijn of the RAI Association, the Dutch organization of car importers and manufacturers. “The lack of infrastructure makes the purchase of a hydrogen vehicle less attractive. And because there is a limited number of hydrogen vehicles, few new hydrogen filling stations are being added for the time being. Moreover, refueling hydrogen is much more expensive than, for example, diesel. That has to change to speed up hydrogen development.”
Hyundai still comes with a new Nexo.
Hydrogen no energy source
Yet hydrogen has always been controversial. The initial optimism soon became less when the general public discovered that hydrogen is not an energy source, but an energy carrier. To make it, power is needed. And if that current is not green, it doesn’t get along yet.
Hydrogen is also very volatile, which means that much is lost at transport and during storage. To transport it, it must be stored under very large pressure and that also costs energy.
Bad return
The most important reason for the victory of the battery-electric car is the efficiency. In the production process of hydrogen with electricity (electrolysis), approximately 20 to 40 percent of the energy is already lost. And when using hydrogen in a passenger car, about half of the energy is lost. In total you will come up with a return of around 30 percent. The efficiency of a battery-electric car is much higher with around 95 percent.
In addition, the supply of hydrogen cars is and remains very limited. There have been only two models for sale in the Netherlands for many years: the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo. And then a hydrogen car also costs much more to purchase, maintenance and fuel than a battery-electric car. For the single hydrogen cars available in the Netherlands, the purchase price with around 70,000 euros was far above the average battery-electric car in 2025 (46,000 euros).
Complicated and expensive
Understandable, because in addition to the electric motor, a small power plant is also needed in a hydrogen car: the so -called fuel cell. The electricity is not supplied here from a battery pack, but by the fuel cell through which hydrogen is led. A chemical process in which electricity is released and as a residual product only water vapor. This technology is therefore quite complicated and expensive.
Therefore, Toyota and Hyundai hardly sell any copies of their Mirai and Nexo in the Netherlands. This is despite the frantic attempts in recent years of, in particular, Toyota importer Louwman & Parqui to promote the hydrogen car with influential Dutch people.
Electric cars are coming further nowadays
But even all these promotional activities that are accompanied by roaring press releases do not seem to help. In the meantime, our country has less than 25 hydrogen stations and that number hardly grows. Hydrogen refueling at such a pump resembles the refueling of LPG: a hose is connected and a few minutes later the tanks are full and more than 600 kilometers can be driven again.
About 600 kilometers (or 700, as with the recently presented new generation Hyundai Nexo) was always impressive compared to battery cars, but now some electric cars are getting even further on one battery charge. Moreover, the new generation of electric cars can be charged within a few minutes.
One more life buoy
There seems to be only one lifebuoy for the hydrogen car. And that is the increasingly realistic scenario that leads a large amount of electric cars to overloading the power grid. If electricity companies do not make billions of investments in the capacity of their networks, the hydrogen car may get a second chance. Also with a possible boycott from China for the delivery of rare metals for the batteries of electric cars, the door could go ajar again.
Otherwise, there really seems to be a future for hydrogen in trucks and ships. After all, large battery packages are not welcome there because they are at the expense of the cargo space and also bring a huge weight.
In almost all other respects, the battery-electric car seems to have defeated the hydrogen car. Which does not mean that the role of the car with combustion engine has also been played. There are simply too many places in the world where there are hardly any charging points. While more and more governments are cutting back on subsidies to boost electric driving, the petrol car seems to be able to last for years.
Car Manufacturers Are Massively Abandoning Hydrogen Cars, and the Number of Related Filling Stations in Europe is also Rapidly DisappeaRation. Confidence in hydrogen cars now appears to be as fleeding as the substance itsself.
For years, Hydrogen was the Future as a Fuel for Motoring. No fossil fuels had to be used, and only a few drops of water came out of the exhaust. Refueling was as fast as with a gasoline car, and the range was just as great.
Yet the Hydrogen Car is coming to a definitive standstill in More and More Places. Stellantis – The Parent Company of Brands Such As Opel, Peugeot, Citroën and Fiat – Recently Announced That It would stop Further Investments in Hydrogen Technology . The Production of Hydrogen-Powered Commercial Vehicles is also Being Stopped. Accordance to Stellantis, the Decision was tasks because of the limited availability of hydrogen filling stations, the required high investments and the lack of sufficient purchase subsidies for customers.
FEWER AND FEWER HYdrogen Filling Stations
Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Honda and Many Other Brands had PreviOutly Stopped Developing Hydrogen. In Addition, More and More European Oil Companies Are Closing Their Hydrogen Filling Stations. In Germany, No Fewer than 22 Hydrogen Filling Stations Will Close This Year.
Shell Closed all its Filling Stations in the United Kingdom Three Years ago, and recently the Austrian State Oil Company OMV Announced that it would close all its Filling Stations for Hydrogen. The Number of Hydrogen Filling Stations in California has also decreased.
Great Future Predicted
That Didn’t Seem Likely Eight Years ago. In 2017, Research by KPMG Showed that 78 percent of people working in the automotive industry Still Thought that the Hydrogen Car would Become the Standard. Some 62 percent were convinced at the time that the electric car would not amount to anything. The Netherlands now has Almost 600,000 battery-electric vehicles. 630 drive on hydrogen.
“Hydrogen Mainly Suffers from the Chicken-and-Egg Story,” Says Freek de Bruijn of the Rai Association, The Dutch Organization of Car Imports and Manufacturers. “The Lack of Infrastructure Makes Purchasing A Hydrogen Vehicle Less Attractive. And Becare There Are A Limited Number Of Hydrogen Vehicles, There are Few New Hydrogen Filling Stations Being Added For The Time More EXPANSE, DRUTING FOR THAN THAN DUELING Change to Accelerate the Development of Hydrogen. “
Hyundai is still coming up with a new Nexo.
Hydrogen is not an energy source
Yet Hydrogen has actual always leg controversial. The initial optimism Soon Diminished when the general public discovered that hydrogen is not an energy source, but an energy carrier. Electricity is needed to make it. And if that electricity is not green, it won’t help.
MoreOover, Hydrogen is extremely volatile, so a lot is Lost Duration Transport and Storage. To transport it, it must be disturbed under very high pressure, which also costs energy.
Poor Efficiency
The Main Reason for the Victory of the Battery-Electric Car is its efficiency. In The Production Process of Hydrogen with Electricity (Electrolysis), Approximately 20 to 40 percent of the Energy, Already Lost is. And when using hydrogen in a passenger car, approxroximately half of the energy is lost. In Total, you end up with an efficiency or around 30 percent. The Efficiency of a Battery-Electric Car is Much Higher at Approximately 95 percent.
In Addition, The Supply of Hydrogen Cars, and Remains Very Limited is. There have only leg two models for sale in the Netherlands for many years: The Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo. And then a hydrogen car also costs much more to purchase, Maintain and Fuel Than a Battery-Electric Car. For the Few Hydrogen Cars Av by the Netherlands, The Purchase Price in 2025, at around 70,000 euros, was Far Above the Average Battery-Electric Car (46,000 euros).
Complicated and Exensive
Understandable, because in addition to the electric motor, a hydrogen car also requires a small power plant: the so-called fuel cell. The electricity is not supplied from a battery pack here, but by the fuel cell through which hydrogen is passed. A chemical process in which electricity is released and only water vapor is left as a waste product. This Technology is Therefore QUITE Complicated and Exensive.
Toyota and Hyundai Therefore Sell Hardly Any Copies of Their Mirai and Nexo in the Netherlands. This is Despite the Frantic Efforts in recent years, Especiate by Toyota Importer Louwman & Parqui, to Promote the Hydrogen Car with Influential Dutch People.
Electric Cars Now Go Further
But even all these promotional activities, which are accompanied by booming press releases, do not seem to help. Meanwhile, Our Country Has Fewer Than 25 Hydrogen Stations and That Number Is Hardly Growing. Refueling Hydrogen at Such A Pump is Similar to Refueling LPG: A Hose is connected and a few minutes later the tanks are full and you can drive more than 600 kilometers again.
Approximately 600 kilometers (OR 700, AS with the recently presented New Generation Hyundai Nexo) was Always Impressive Compared to Battery Cars, But some Electric Cars Now Go Even Further On A Single Battery Charge. MoreOover, the new generation of electric cars can be charged within a few minutes.
One More Lifeline
There actual seems to be only one lifeline left for the hydrogen car. And that is the Increasingly Realistic Scenario That a Large Number of Electric Cars Will Lead to Overloading of the Electricity Grid. IF Electricity Companies Do Not Make Billions in Investments in the Capacity of Their Networks, The Hydrogen Car May Get A Second Chance. A Possible Boycott by China of the Supply of Rare Metals For The Batteries of Electric Cars Could also open the by again.
Otherwise, hydrogen only seems to have a future in trucks and ships. After all, Large Battery Packs Are Not Welcome There because they come at the Expense of the Loading Space and also Involve Hogy Olante Weight.
In Almost All Other Respects, The Battery-Electric Car Now Seems to Have Defeated the Hydrogen Car. Which does not mean that the role of the car with a combustion engine has also playing out. There are simply still too many places in the world where there are hardly any charging points to be found. As More and More Governments Cut Back On Subsidies to Boost Electric Driving, The Gasoline Car Seems Likely to Last for Years to Come.