Three companies in Ohio are boldly stepping into the hydrogen fuel cell passenger vehicle arena, carving out a niche in a landscape that is predominantly focused on electric vehicles (EVs). As the U.S. market for EVs continues to swell, these Ohio innovators are tackling the age-old chicken-and-egg dilemma of hydrogen availability and consumer demand head-on. Their unique approach is particularly intriguing given that Ohio currently lacks public hydrogen fueling stations, a challenge that mirrors the situation in California, where even the hydrogen vehicle capital has fewer than 60 fueling stations.
Mark Henning from Cleveland State University’s Energy Policy Center highlights that most hydrogen transportation projects have concentrated on medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. This makes Ohio’s focus on passenger vehicles a rarity not just regionally, but nationally. The hydrogen car, a hybrid of sorts, combines an electric vehicle with an onboard fuel cell to generate electricity. Despite the first hydrogen fuel cell prototypes being showcased by General Motors in the 1960s, it wasn’t until 2015 that consumers could lease the Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell, followed by the launch of the Toyota Mirai. Since then, only around 18,000 fuel cell cars have hit the roads in the U.S., with California being the main player.
However, Ohio has been quietly nurturing hydrogen technology for over twenty years. The Ohio Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Coalition, established in 2003, stands testament to the state’s commitment. If successful, the current initiatives could offer an alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles, especially since hydrogen cars can be refueled in a fraction of the time it takes to charge an electric vehicle, and they tend to perform better in colder climates.
DLZ, an engineering firm in Columbus, exemplifies this shift. With a fleet of 250 vehicles, including six Hyundai hydrogen fuel cell cars shipped from California, they are setting the stage for a hydrogen future. The company has even installed its own hydrogen generation station, capable of producing 20 kilograms of hydrogen daily, powered by a solar array. Ram Rajadhyaksha, DLZ’s executive vice president, emphasizes the advantages of hydrogen fuel cells, particularly their reliability in extreme weather.
Honda is also making waves with its American-made hybrid hydrogen vehicle, the 2025 CR-V e:FCEV, produced at its Marysville plant. This model not only boasts a 270-mile range on hydrogen but also includes a small electric battery for short commutes. Honda’s approach emphasizes a dual strategy—leveraging both electric and hydrogen technologies to maximize efficiency based on specific needs.
Millennium Reign Energy in Dayton is taking a community-centric approach to hydrogen infrastructure. Their Emerald H2 network aims to create a membership model that will facilitate access to hydrogen fueling stations while promoting the sale of used fuel cell vehicles. CEO Chris McWhinney envisions a transcontinental hydrogen highway, with stations powered by renewable energy sources, potentially lowering the cost of hydrogen fuel below that of gasoline.
Yet, the road ahead is fraught with challenges. Critics point out that battery-electric vehicles are far more efficient in utilizing renewable electricity than hydrogen fuel cells. A study published in Joule last August highlighted that battery-electric vehicles are about three times more efficient, raising questions about whether hydrogen passenger vehicles are the best use of renewable energy resources.
Moreover, the current hydrogen fuel costs in California are steep, priced at roughly five times the cost of gasoline for equivalent distances. While Ohio’s public transit systems have successfully integrated hydrogen buses, the adaptation of hydrogen passenger vehicles hinges on the development of a robust fueling infrastructure and the ability of the hydrogen sector to prove its viability alongside the rapidly expanding electric vehicle network.
As Ohio’s companies push forward, they are not merely trying to keep pace with the electric vehicle boom; they are laying the groundwork for a future where hydrogen could play a pivotal role in the transportation sector. The interplay between these technologies will shape the landscape of clean transportation in the years to come, and Ohio’s bold moves may just be the catalyst that sparks a nationwide shift.
