Running On Hydrogen: Fuel Cell Powered Cars Make A Comeback

Fuel Cell
The Honda FCV, seen at the SAE World Congress. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars

Will hydrogen fuel cell powered cars finally become popular?

There is a Hollywood insult that you can’t stage a comeback if you weren’t ever a star. Hydrogen fuel cells were touted as the next big thing at the 2013 auto shows but never truly took off. Now, according to a New York Times article, they are trying again.

Toyota Mirai At Sae
Toyota Mirai at SAE World Congress. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars

Popular Mechanics described the simple mechanics behind hydrogen fuel cells: “hydrogen atoms are stripped of their electrons to generate electricity and then combined with oxygen to form water as a by-product.” Imagine that – liquid dripping from your car could be a good thing!

Fuel Cell
The 2015 Hyundai Tucson, powered by hydrogen fuel cells, can be leased in California. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars

Hydrogen powered cars are similar to battery electric vehicles, but they can run much further on a tank of hydrogen – and don’t require a huge battery pack or hours to recharge.

In California, you can lease a Hyundai Tucson crossover powered by hydrogen – and get a lot of incentives. At the New York Auto Show, Toyota showed off its Mirai fuel cell car, which will be sold later this year, exclusively in California; at the 2015 Detroit auto show, Honda showed a hydrogen powered car it plans for 2016 – but sold only in Japan.

Judy Antell
Judy Antell

Judy Antell, who is TravelingMom.com's Free in 50 States editor, lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with her husband and three daughters. Between road trips to visit colleges, travel sports and seeing East Coast sights, she spends a lot of time on the road for a city girl.

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