Sales of hydrogen cars in US fell by almost 80% in past six months, new figures show
Only 424 units were purchased between October 2023 and March 2024, compared to 2,044 in the previous half-year
Sales of hydrogen-powered fuel-cell cars in the US fell by 79.3% over the past six months, compared to the prior six-month period, according to new figures from the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership.
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Sign up nowA total of 424 H2 cars were sold in California — the only US market for the vehicles — from 1 October 2023 to 31 March 2024, compared to 2,044 between 1 April 2023 and 30 September 2023, the data shows.
The figures amount to the lowest two quarters of sales for fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in the state since the first half of 2016.
The news comes despite Toyota offering a 60% discount on its Mirai Limited FCEV in California in February, in addition to $15,000 of free hydrogen fuel and interest-free financing for up to six years.
The downturn in sales is probably due to the rocketing hydrogen fuel prices seen in the state over the past 12 months, while significant supply disruptions last year made fuelling difficult for many existing FCEV drivers.
Nevertheless, sales of hydrogen cars in California actually rose in 2023, compared to 2022, despite poor sales in the final quarter.
Only two models of FCEV are on sale in the US: the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo.
Cumulative sales of fuel-cell cars in California now amount to 18,180 since 2012.
FCEV sales in California over past 12 months
| Units sold | |
| Mar 2024 | 88 |
| Feb 2024 | 67 |
| Jan 2024 | 68 |
| Dec 2023 | 48 |
| Nov 2023 | 72 |
| Oct 2023 | 81 |
| Sept 2023 | 148 |
| Aug 2023 | 294 |
| Jul 2023 | 508 |
| Jun 2023 | 453 |
| May 2023 | 429 |
| April 2023 | 212 |
Source: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership/Baum and Associates