Question: Do you think we will see hydrogen cars in the near future?

Andrew McDowall answered on 25 Feb 2026:

Possibly not cars, but other vehicles are reasonably likely. There aree two different hydrogen technologies – H2-ice, similar to current petrol or LNG engines but burning H2 directly to generate the motive force- and H2-fc, fuel cell vehicles where the hydrogen and oxygen are combined without combustion to generate electricity to drive an electric motor, similar to a battery electric vehicle. Both technologies have advantages and disadvantages and both compete with battery technologies.

With current technologies battery power is generally considered best for cars – they sit idle most of the time, so there’s time to charge them and the weight of the battery packs is managable. For heavier and more intensive use hydrogen fuel cells are thought to be a better option – say larger buses and heavier lorries – recharging time and battery weight become significant disadvantages, you want your lorry moving, delivering, generating income as much as possible. This could also apply to taxis, perhaps the first place you’ll see fuel cell cars regularly. For really heavy duty use – construction, agriculture and mining – then H2-ICE is thought best. Simple, rugged, powerful and capable of rapid refuelling. During harvest you want your Harvester available at a moment’s notice day or night, recharging becomes a serious concern. Mining equipment needs to be working. Companies like JCB are developing H2-ICE for this reason.

As they develop the balance of where one technology takes over from the next shifts, but at the moment it looks more likely that you’ll see a hydrogen lorry or hydrogen digger in the near future than a hydrogen car, with the possible exception of California.