Hydrogen cars seem to have everything going for them. They emit only water vapour and recharge quickly. Yet they remain rare. Do they still have a place in individual mobility?
One might think that hydrogen is the ideal fuel for cars. The reality, however, is more nuanced.
They consume a lot of energy
Many people think hydrogen cars simply run on hydrogen, but in reality they’re powered by an electric motor. Inside the vehicle, hydrogen is converted into electricity to power that motor. But before that happens, the hydrogen must first be produced and transported to the tank—three major steps, each with energy losses:
- Hydrogen production (electrolysis): When hydrogen is produced by electrolysis (electricity is used to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen), the efficiency is around 70% to 80%. This means that 20% to 30% of the electrical energy is lost in the production process.
- Compression and transport: Hydrogen must be compressed to very high pressure (usually 700 bar) for storage and transport, which also consumes energy. Losses are estimated at around 10%.
- Use in cars (fuel cells): In the car itself, hydrogen is converted into electricity to power an electric motor. Around 40% to 50% of the energy is lost at this stage.
Ultimately, even under favourable conditions, the overall efficiency of the entire chain (production + transport + fuel cell) is at most 25%. Approximately ¾ of the energy is therefore lost before the wheels start turning.
In comparison, with the same amount of starting electricity, an electric vehicle can travel about 2.5 to 3 times further than a hydrogen vehicle.
Efficiency: hydrogen vs. electric with batteries | ||
|---|---|---|
| Energy cycle stage | Hydrogen cars | Electric vehicle with batteries |
| Initial electricity | 100% | 100% |
| Hydrogen production | From 70% to 80% (electrolysis loss) | - |
| Compression and/or transport | Approximately 90% (compression, storage and transport) | From 90% to 95% (line losses) |
| Use in the vehicle | From 50% to 60% (fuel cell) | From 85% to 90% (electric motor) |
| Overall efficiency | Approximately 25% to 35% | Approximately 70% to 85% |
Why not use hydrogen directly?
Using a fuel cell to convert hydrogen into electricity may seem counterintuitive. Indeed, why not use hydrogen directly in an internal combustion engine , like petrol? This would eliminate one step, and in principle, the efficiency would be better, right?
Although technically possible, this has several disadvantages:
- (Even) lower efficiency: Fuel cells convert hydrogen into electricity with an efficiency of 50% to 60%. This is a "cold" and efficient electrochemical reaction. Burning hydrogen in a conventional engine has an efficiency of only 25% to 30%.
- More pollution: It is often said that hydrogen only emits water. This is true for fuel cells, but false for direct combustion. In an internal combustion engine, combustion takes place with ambient air at very high temperatures. This heat causes the creation of nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are toxic gases and atmospheric pollutants.
An expensive and scarce fuel
High cost of use
Hydrogen is not yet a "cheap" fuel for the average user, whether compared to electricity or even traditional fossil fuels.
The price of hydrogen at the filling station varies greatly depending on the country and the production method, but the orders of magnitude are as follows:
- In Europe (Belgium/Germany): The price is generally between €15 and €25 per kilo, although the industry is aiming for €10 in the long term.
- Consumption: A passenger car consumes approximately 1 kg per 100 km.
- Cost per 100 km: This works out at between €15 and €25.
Usage cost of hydrogen VS electric with batteries | ||
|---|---|---|
| Energy | Cost per 100 km (2025) | Verdict |
| Electricity (home charging) | €5 - €7 | Most economical |
| Diesel / Essence | €8 - €12 | Intermediate |
| Hydrogen | €15 – €25 | Currently the most expensive |
Why is it so expensive?
Prices ranging from €15 to €25 per kilo are currently found at filling stations. However, it is important to distinguish between the cost of production and the price at the pump.
The production cost (ex-factory) varies greatly between "grey" and "green" hydrogen:
- Grey Hydrogen (Fossil): Approximately €1.50 to €2 per kilo. This is the cheapest type because it is produced from natural gas (steam reforming).
- Green Hydrogen (Renewable): Approximately €4 to €6 per kilo. It is produced by electrolysis of water using clean electricity. Its price depends directly on the cost of electricity and the price of electrolysers.
But even if grey hydrogen costs only €2 to produce, you will pay much more for it at the station. The difference is used to cover:
- Compression: It takes a huge amount of energy to compress the gas to 700 bar.
- Transport: Special tanker trucks or pipelines.
- Station amortisation: A hydrogen station costs around €2 million to build. And as there are few customers, each kilo sold must generate a significant return in order to recoup the investment.
What about the future?
Experts and governments (through plans such as "Hydrogen Shot" in the US or European plans) are aiming for a production cost of €1 to €2 per kilo by 2030-2035.
If this target is achieved, hydrogen could become very competitive, particularly for lorries and buses that travel long distances and cannot afford long electric charging times.
Not as sustainable as we think
Today, most of the hydrogen sold at filling stations is still often grey hydrogen (or a mix), as this is the only economically viable option for station operators.
Currently, less than 1% of the hydrogen produced worldwide is low-emission (mainly blue hydrogen). This is the challenge facing the industry for 2030: to lower its production costs and increase its share to 4%.
Only 8 stations in Belgium
In Belgium, there will be only 8 operational hydrogen stations in 2025: Zaventem, Halle, Antwerp (2), Leuven, Erpe-Mere, Herve and Ollignies (not open to the public, for buses only).
For Brussels residents, Zaventem and Halle are the closest. As there are no stations in the Brussels-Capital Region, driving on hydrogen remains impractical for many Brussels residents.
Twice as expensive as combustion engine cars
Fuel cells are complex and use rare materials (such as platinum). This makes hydrogen cars expensive to buy and maintain.
Furthermore, storing hydrogen at 700 bar requires ultra-resistant carbon fibre tanks, which are complex and expensive to manufacture.
Finally, unlike Tesla or Renault, which produce hundreds of thousands of electric cars, hydrogen cars are produced in small batches, which prevents economies of scale.
Today, the prices of hydrogen-powered passenger cars still often range from €65,000 to €80,000, while electric alternatives are available in an increasingly wide range of prices.
Price ranges in 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Representative models | Approximate price (new) |
| Entry level | Toyota Mirai (Lounge) | €67,000 - €73,000 |
| Mid/high range | Hyundai NEXO | €75,000 - €80,000 |
| Luxury/Premium | BMW iX5 Hydrogen, NamX HUV, Hopium | €120,000 - €150,000+ |
Encouraging prospects
Analysts and the National Hydrogen Council predict that vehicle prices could be halved. The aim is to bring the price of a hydrogen SUV closer to that of a high-end hybrid or electric SUV (around €45,000 - €50,000).
Toyota and Hyundai are working on "third-generation" fuel cells that aim to reduce production costs by 50% through a simplified design that uses fewer rare metals.
So why hydrogen?
Despite all its drawbacks, hydrogen still has certain environmental and practical advantages:
- Refuelling time: Refuelling with hydrogen takes only a few minutes, unlike batteries, which require longer charging times.
- Range: Hydrogen vehicles often offer a range comparable to or even greater than that of current electric vehicles (around 600-650 km on average on a full tank).
- Weight: Hydrogen systems are generally lighter than the large batteries required for a similar range.
- Sustainable: Provided it is produced with green electricity, hydrogen does not generate any greenhouse gases, either during its production or when used as a fuel.
Does hydrogen still have a role to play?
Probably not as a sustainable solution for passenger cars. Hydrogen cars seemed promising, but in practice they face several major obstacles:
- Low energy efficiency
- High production costs
- Low availability of green hydrogen
- Priority given to other sectors that are more difficult to decarbonise
For individual mobility, battery electric cars remain the most logical choice today.
But hydrogen remains an interesting option where batteries become too heavy or impractical, for example in heavy transport or other sectors that are difficult to decarbonise.
Curious to know where hydrogen still has a role to play? Discover its role in the energy transition.
