Alternative technologies to traditional internal combustion engines have fully burst into the automotive industry. Amid this paradigm shift, electric vehicles and hydrogen cars have emerged as cutting-edge options aimed at reshaping the mobility landscape.
However, in contrast to the growing presence of electric cars in the park, hydrogen fuel cell cars remain a practically token option. Globally, only three hydrogen models are available on the market: the Toyota Mirai, the Hyundai Nexo - the only two that are sold in Spain - and the Honda Clarity. This limited supply provides a clear indication of the current low viability of hydrogen-powered vehicles.
This reality is also reflected in our country, where the presence of hydrogen cars is minimal. With only three hydrogen service stations for public use throughout the territory, located in Madrid, Seville and Zaragoza, the reality is that sales are very small: in 2022, 4 units were sold, and so far Another 6 have been sold this year.
A hydrogen car is basically an electric vehicle. But instead of charging its battery by connecting it to the electrical grid, it does so through a built-in hydrogen fuel cell. Electricity is generated on board through a chemical reaction in which hydrogen stored in tanks combines with oxygen in the air to produce electricity. This is supplied directly to the engine and only water is released through the exhaust pipe, making it a completely clean technology.
Both 100% electric cars and those that use hydrogen have the 0 emissions environmental label from the DGT and do not pollute when they circulate. The key is how the electricity used by the batteries or the hydrogen consumed by the battery is generated, since in both cases it can be produced from different more or less polluting sources.
To be truly sustainable, both electric and fuel cell vehicles must use clean energy. Electric companies must use electricity that is produced from renewable sources, such as hydraulic, wind and solar. Fuel cell cars must be supplied with green hydrogen, which is generated from electrolysis, a process that separates oxygen and hydrogen particles from water using electricity from renewable sources.
Only three fuel cell models are marketed in the world, two of which are also sold in Spain: the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo. The price of both cars is high: the sedan from the Japanese manufacturer has a starting price of 65,000 euros and the large Hyundai SUV is available from 73,450 euros.
The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) establishes a comparison of the fuel cost of hydrogen, electric and gasoline cars per 100 km depending on the price of the power sources.
The consumer organization emphasizes that, although it is true that the cost of fuel for a hydrogen car is 50% cheaper than that of a gasoline car, the savings do not compensate for the high purchase cost of the vehicle. “If we want a zero-emission car, it would be much more economical to acquire an electric car, both in terms of the purchase price and the cost of use,” underlines the OCU.
Finally, the OCU highlights the advantages of hydrogen cars, related to their sustainability, and the drawbacks that, for now, seem insurmountable.
