7 hydrogen-powered cars in the works right now

It may seem odd that so many automakers are developing hydrogen-powered cars.

Advertisement

Not many people have heard of the technology, and from an infrastructure standpoint, purely electric vehicles make more sense. For example, there are 12,131 electric stations in the United States, and hydrogen stations are really only available in California.

But a lot of work is being done behind the scenes to make hydrogen-powered cars a reality.

Lexus LF-LC hydrogen car
Lexus

Here's a look at all the hydrogen-powered cars we can expect to see in the near future:

Advertisement

Toyota has been working on hydrogen-powered cars the longest, having put 23 years into the technology. Here we see its hydrogen car, the Toyota Mirai.

2016 Toyota Mirai
Toyota

The automaker has been selling the Toyota Mirai in Japan since December 2014, but began sales in California in October 2015 — marking the first time hydrogen-powered vehicles were sold in the United States.

The automaker has sold 144 Toyota Mirais in California as of April 11, a Toyota spokesperson told Tech Insider. Toyota plans to sell 30,000 a year worldwide by 2020.

The Toyota Mirai can drive for 312 miles before needing a refuel and reaches a top speed of 111 miles per hour.

toyota mirai hydrogen
Toyota
Advertisement

The Mirai has a frontal radar system so it can detect potential collisions and automatically employ the brakes.

Toyota Mirai
Toyota

Here we see the interior of the Mirai.

The car is also equipped with a camera so it can detect lane drift and alert the driver with a buzzer to correct the situation.

Toyota Mirai
Toyota
Advertisement

The car comes with two touchscreens. The top one can be used for music selection and navigation, while the one on the bottom controls the temperature and audio output.

2016 Toyota Mirai interior
Toyota

Honda will begin leasing its fuel-cell car, the Honda Clarity, in California by the end of 2016.

Honda Clarity hydrogen car
Honda
Advertisement

The Honda Clarity will have a refuel time of just three to five minutes and can go 400 miles before needing more fuel. Below we see its interior.

honda clarity interior
Honda

The Honda Clarity will cost around $60,000 and has a targeted monthly lease of $500.

Lexus wants to unveil its hydrogen-powered car in 2020, but we have yet to hear details on its range or other specs.

Lexus LF-LC hydrogen car
Lexus

It's worth noting that Lexus' parent company is Toyota.

Advertisement

The car comes with high-tech perks like a display that can be controlled with simple hand gestures.

Lexus LF-LC hydrogen car interior
Lexus

Audi unveiled a concept car, the h-tron quattro, at the Detroit Auto Show that can drive 372 miles on hydrogen alone.

audi hydrogen concept car detroit
Audi
Advertisement

The mustard yellow, fuel cell car can go from 0 to 62 miles per hour in under 7.1 seconds.

audi hydrogen cell concept car detroit
Audi

But it's still unclear if Audi will go through with making a production hydrogen car.

The h-tron quattro comes with a "virtual cockpit," which means it has screens behind the steering wheel and in the center console to control things like music and navigation.

Audi hydrogen car interior
Audi
Advertisement

The Audi h-tron quattro also comes with driver assist systems, like projecting your surroundings in real-time so you can change lanes and merge easier.

Audi hydrogen car steering wheel
Audi

The interior of Audi's hydrogen-powered car offers plenty of legroom and television screens for its passengers.

Audi hydrogen car interior
Audi
Advertisement

BMW is working on a hydrogen car starting in 2020.

BMW hydrogen car
BMW

BMW will collaborate with Toyota to build the hydrogen drivetrains in its 2020 car. 

BMW's hydrogen car will have a range exceeding 300 miles and a refuel time of under five minutes.

BMW hydrogen car
BMW

Source: BMW

Advertisement

Ford is aiming to launch the first affordable, mass-market vehicle by 2017.

Ford hydrogen car
Getty/David McNew

In January 2013, Ford announced it was teaming up with Mercedes-Benz's parent company Daimler and Nissan to accelerate the creation of fuel cell technology. There's no word yet on how the car will perform.

Source: Ford

Welsh start-up Riversimple is aiming to have its hydrogen car on the market in 2018 following road testing.

Riversimple Rasa hydrogen car
Riversimple
Advertisement

Called the Rasa, the car boasts a 300-mile range and is super light-weight, coming in under 1,300 pounds.

Riversimple Rasa hydrogen car
Riversimple

The Rasa is currently a prototype, but it's been improved for testing for later this year. There's no word yet on speed.

Riversimple Rasa hydrogen car
Riversimple
Transportation
Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.