The UK is accelerating toward its 2050 net zero targets. Consumers now face a choice between battery electric vehicles (EVs) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs).
The government has confirmed the 2030 phase-out date for new petrol and diesel cars. Meanwhile, BMW plans to launch hydrogen models by 2028.
This guide brings you expert insights, including exclusive commentary from Professor Colin Herron CBE. With 45 years in the automotive industry and 17 years at Nissan, he offers practical perspectives to help you make an informed decision.
What the Article Contains
- The Technology Face Off - How do They Work?
- Refuelling vs Charging: The Infrastructure Battle
- Range and Refuelling: Addressing the Biggest Concerns:
- Reliability and Longevity Comparison
- The Ownership Cost Comparison
- Which is Better for the Environment?
- Future Outlook: Which Technology Will Dominate?
- Final Verdict
To deepeProfessor Herron offers unique insights based on real-world experience rather than theoretical projections.
In this interview, he shares candid observations about both technologies, addressing the key questions we've explored throughout this article and providing valuable context for your vehicle decisions.
The Technology Face Off - How do They Work?
How does a hydrogen car work compared to an electric car?
At their core, both technologies power vehicles with electric motors, but they generate and store that electricity very differently.
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) store electricity directly in large battery packs, typically lithium-ion batteries. When you plug in your car, electricity flows directly into these batteries. When driving, the stored electricity powers electric motors that turn the wheels.
Hydrogen Vehicles come in two main varieties in the UK market:
- Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs)
These carry hydrogen in high-pressure tanks. The hydrogen combines with oxygen to produce electricity and water vapour. This powers electric motors similar to BEVs. The Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo are examples of FCEVs in the UK.
- Hydrogen Combustion Vehicles
These use hydrogen in a modified engine. They burn hydrogen directly, producing mainly water vapour. This keeps the familiar sound of traditional engines while cutting emissions. Toyota's GR Yaris H2 uses this approach.
Some manufacturers are also developing Hydrogen Combustion Vehicles.
Using hydrogen in a modified engine, they burn hydrogen directly to produce mainly water vapour. This approach maintains the familiar sound of traditional engines while eliminating carbon emissions.
Professor Colin Herron CBE offers a stark assessment:
Refuelling vs Charging: The Infrastructure Battle
The infrastructure gap between hydrogen and electric is substantial:
Hydrogen infrastructure in the UK
- Only 16 hydrogen refueling stations nationwide.
- Just 6 open to the public
- Locations: Aberdeen (2), Birmingham, London, Sheffield/Rotherham, and Swindon
- Refueling takes 3-5 minutes, similar to conventional cars.
EV Charging Infrastructure in the UK
- Over 75,000 public EV charging points
- A new charger added every 29 minutes according to government data
- Home charging possible for many EV owners
The hydrogen infrastructure faces a critical chicken-and-egg problem. Manufacturers won't make hydrogen cars without refuelling stations. Energy companies won't build expensive stations (£1-2 million each) without enough vehicles on the road.
Electric vehicles benefit from using existing electricity infrastructure. Most EV owners charge at home overnight, waking up to a full battery each morning.
Professor Herron, further says:
He notes a broader infrastructure planning issue:
Range and Refuelling: Addressing the Biggest Concerns
One of hydrogen's biggest advantages is quick refuelling. FCVs can refuel in 3-5 minutes, similar to petrol cars. By contrast, even rapid charging for EVs takes 20-40 minutes to reach 80% battery. However, EV charging works differently in practice:
Following are the realities of electric vehicle charging:
- Home charging overnight while sleeping (no waiting).
- Public fast charging typically during natural breaks.
- Most drivers charge once a week for regular commuting.
- UK government data shows EV owners save about £1,100 per year compared to petrol.
Following are the realities of hydrogen refueling:
- Quicker refuelling (3-5 minutes).
- Very limited station availability.
- Higher fuel costs (£70-120 for a full tank).
- No option for home refuelling.
Professor Herron addresses a common misconception about EV range:
Range Comparison: Hydrogen vs Electric
Hydrogen vehicles offer impressive driving ranges with the Toyota Mirai delivering 357-402 miles and the Hyundai Nexo reaching up to 414 miles on a single tank.
One notable advantage of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is their consistent performance in cold weather conditions, with minimal impact on range.
Electric vehicles present a more varied range spectrum depending on vehicle class.
Budget-friendly EVs typically provide 150-250 miles per charge, while mid-range models offer 250-300 miles. Premium electric vehicles can achieve 300-400+ miles, comparable to hydrogen alternatives.
However, EV range can decrease by 10-20% in cold weather conditions, a consideration for drivers in colder climates.Which One is Better in Terms of Reliability and Longevity?
Both electric vehicles (EVs) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles represent cutting-edge technologies with different approaches to long-term durability.
When it comes to EV longevity, we now have evidence-backed data proving these vehicles are remarkably durable. Far more so than most of us initially expected:
Most EV manufacturers offer 8-10 years or 100,000-mile battery warranties. Modern batteries are proving to maintain 70-80% capacity after 10+ years.
Hydrogen fuel cells on the other end have fewer moving parts than conventional engines. Toyota claims its fuel cells can last the lifetime of the vehicle with proper maintenance.
Cost Comparison: Purchase and Running Costs
Electric vehicles cost £25,000-£60,000+ to purchase. The basic options often have limited performance capabilities and range, while expensive options have an average range of above 350 miles and are high end performance wise.
Hydrogen vehicles on the other hand cost around £60,000-£65,000 due to being an early product as was the case with the first electric cars.
Running Cost
Running costs show that electric vehicles are more economical, with home charging at 7-15p per mile and public charging at 12-25p per mile, compared to hydrogen's 17-25p per mile (at £10-15 per kg).
Maintenance Cost
Maintenance costs favour electric vehicles with very low requirements due to fewer moving parts and no oil changes needed. Hydrogen vehicles, while still relatively low-maintenance compared to petrol vehicles, require more attention to their fuel cell systems.
On EV servicing costs:
Which is Better for the Environment
When evaluating eco-friendly transportation options, both electric and hydrogen vehicles offer significant environmental advantages compared to conventional petrol and diesel cars, though each has distinct sustainability considerations throughout their lifecycle.
Electrical Vehicle Environmental Impact
Electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, making them ideal for improving urban air quality.
Their true carbon footprint varies significantly based on the electricity source powering them. Renewable energy-charged EVs deliver dramatically lower lifecycle emissions than those charged with coal-generated electricity.
While battery production does create environmental impacts through mining and manufacturing processes, the industry is rapidly advancing with second-life applications that repurpose EV batteries for energy storage.
The battery recycling technologies are becoming increasingly viable, helping to create a more circular economy for critical materials.
Hydrogen Vehicle Environmental Impact
Hydrogen vehicles similarly emit only water from their tailpipes, offering clean operation in urban environments.
Their overall environmental impact, however, is heavily influenced by hydrogen production methods.
Green hydrogen (produced using renewable electricity) offers substantial environmental benefits compared to grey hydrogen (derived from natural gas).
Hydrogen vehicles require less battery material than their fully electric counterparts, potentially reducing resource extraction.
Hydrogen production can be water-intensive, raising considerations about water resource management in production regions.
Emission breakdown
Professor Herron breaks down typical emissions as follows:
- The cleanest conventional cars emit about 95g CO2/km
- EVs using the UK grid mix can achieve around 27g CO2/km
He points out hydrogen's hidden environmental cost:
Future Outlook: Which Technology Will Dominate?
Looking at industry investment patterns reveals where automotive manufacturers are placing their bets.
The vast majority of global automakers have committed billions to electric vehicle development, with comparatively minimal investment in hydrogen technology for passenger cars.
This stark contrast isn't merely coincidental but reflects careful analysis of technological feasibility, infrastructure requirements, and consumer preferences.
His assessment isn't based on theoretical preference but on market realities and industry direction. He points to the massive financial commitments being made to electric vehicle production:
This all shows that the automotive industry's direction is clear:
- Most major manufacturers have committed to EV-focused futures.
- EV sales in the UK were up 40% in March 2025.
- The 2030 petrol/diesel ban is confirmed. The hybrid ban is softened till 2035.
- BMW remains one of the few major manufacturers still developing hydrogen cars.
Does Hydrogen still have a future?
Despite hydrogen's challenges in the passenger car market, the technology isn't without merit in certain applications.
The characteristics of hydrogen fuel cells make them particularly suitable for specific use cases where battery electric solutions face limitations, such as heavy good vehicles (transportation), buses with central depots, maritime and potentially aviation applications and industrial uses like steel production. These are particular areas in which electric suffers a lot. We cannot imagine an EV tank going from London to Scotland.
Electric vehicles currently dominate and will continue to dominate:
- Passenger cars across all segments.
- Light commercial vehicles.
- Urban mobility solutions.
Our Verdict on Hydrogen vs Electric
While hydrogen fuel cell vehicles offer impressive range and quick refuelling, electric vehicles currently provide a more practical, economical, and accessible zero-emission solution for most UK drivers.
The advantages of electric vehicles include:
- Extensive charging infrastructure.
- Lower purchase and running costs.
- Home charging convenience.
- Higher energy efficiency.
- Wider model selection.
Hydrogen vehicles may find success in specific commercial applications, but for personal transport, electric vehicles have established a clear lead that is likely to continue:
Motorfinity
At Motorfinity, we pride ourselves on offering exclusive discount across all makes and models.
Whether you're looking for efficiency, style, or cutting-edge technology, our selection is designed to meet every need.
You can choose from Personal Contract Purchase (PCP), Hire Purchase (HP), and leasing deals.
Each option provides flexibility and benefits tailored to different driving habits and budgetary needs.
Are you eligible?
Our nation’s Armed Forces, Veterans, Emergency Services, NHS, Police and Prison Services, the Education and Social Care sectors and more from our eligible audience.
Related Reads
OTA Updates in Cars
Estimated Read Time: 2 min 30 sec
When we think of the latest automotive advancements, images of high-speed electric vehicles and self-driving cars often come to mind. However, one of the less-discussed yet profoundly transformative innovations..
Read More
What are Hybrid Cars
Estimated Read Time: 2 min
Hybrid cars, also known as hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs), differ from other vehicles in that they use more than one means of propulsion: a petrol or diesel engine along with an electric motor.
Read More
How to Charge Electric Vehicle at Home
Estimated Read Time: 2 min
With the price of petrol, diesel and other fuels continuing to skyrocket, it’s not surprising that electric and hybrid vehicles have soared in popularity. Removing the need to rely on fossil fuels also has huge environmental benefits,
Read More