For years, hydrogen has hovered on the periphery of the zero-emissions conversation—a clean, powerful fuel source that’s long promised to rival battery-electric technology. But while it has stirred the imagination of engineers and futurists, its road to relevance in the automotive world has been anything but smooth. Now, one of the industry’s biggest players is backing away from the hydrogen dream.
Stellantis, the automotive conglomerate behind brands like Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, Opel, and Ram, has officially pulled the plug on its hydrogen fuel cell program for commercial vehicles. Once touted as a forward-thinking alternative to battery-powered vans, the project has now become another casualty of economic pragmatism and political inaction.
A Vanishing Vision
Earlier this year, Stellantis was bullish about hydrogen. The company had plans to deploy eight hydrogen-powered midsize and large vans under various badges—from the Citroën ë-Jumpy and Peugeot E-Expert to the Fiat E-Scudo and Opel Vivaro. Production was set to ramp up this summer at facilities in Hordain, France, and Gliwice, Poland.
But as the economics grew more daunting and infrastructure progress lagged behind, optimism gave way to realism. According to Stellantis, the hydrogen vehicle segment “remains a niche” with “no prospects of mid-term economic sustainability.” The cost of scaling the technology and the lack of a global refueling network ultimately made the endeavor untenable.
Notably, Stellantis isn’t laying off workers at the affected production sites, and its research and development teams will pivot to projects unrelated to fuel cells. Still, the abrupt U-turn is a stark signal to the rest of the industry: even with scale, support, and ambition, hydrogen struggles to compete in today’s automotive market.
Infrastructure: The Missing Link
Even if Stellantis had forged ahead, customers would have faced a cold, hard truth—there simply isn’t enough hydrogen infrastructure to make ownership viable. Outside of a few isolated regions like parts of California, Japan, and Germany, hydrogen refueling stations are practically nonexistent. Without a concerted global push, the technology remains stranded in a limbo between promise and practicality.
Stellantis has also pointed fingers at governments, suggesting that stronger incentives and subsidies could have helped lower costs and spark adoption. But with many policy makers focused on accelerating battery EV rollouts, hydrogen has been left to fend for itself.
Not Everyone’s Giving Up
While Stellantis may be waving the white flag, not all automakers are ready to concede. Toyota remains a vocal advocate for hydrogen, doubling down on both fuel cell vehicles and experimental hydrogen combustion engines. The Japanese giant is even collaborating with BMW on a hydrogen SUV set to debut in 2028—likely based on the next-gen X5.
Hyundai continues its commitment as well, recently updating its Nexo crossover and pushing fuel cell truck development under its Xcient banner. Meanwhile, Honda is refining its next-gen fuel cell module—targeting 2027 for mass production with cost cuts and improved durability—through its joint venture with GM, Fuel Cell Systems Manufacturing LLC in Michigan.
Even in the niche performance segment, hydrogen hasn’t been written off. Alpine, Renault’s sporty sub-brand, teased enthusiasts with a hydrogen-powered V6 supercar concept, while Renault itself imagined a sleek, rear-drive wagon blending fuel cells with a rechargeable battery system.
Volkswagen’s Cold Shoulder
On the other hand, Volkswagen remains firmly unconvinced. At CES 2023, then-CEO Thomas Schäfer bluntly dismissed hydrogen as a viable solution for passenger cars, citing cabin intrusion from bulky tanks and overall inefficiency. “I don’t see this happening in this decade,” he said. “Not at Volkswagen.”
The Future: Still Hazy
As exciting as hydrogen technology may be in theory—quick refueling, zero tailpipe emissions, and impressive energy density—it continues to fall short in practice. Without the infrastructure to support it, and with battery electric vehicles getting cheaper and more capable by the year, hydrogen’s automotive future remains unclear.
Stellantis’ retreat doesn’t signal the end of hydrogen in the industry, but it certainly reinforces a hard truth: potential alone isn’t enough. If hydrogen is to carve out a meaningful role, it will need more than engineering breakthroughs—it will require a coordinated global effort in infrastructure, regulation, and consumer incentives. Until then, it risks remaining the fuel of the future… forever just out of reach.
Photo: Opel
