"Hydrogen is expensive and there's nowhere to refuel" – is that actually true?

Now that the new Hyundai NEXO has hit the market, mainstream car magazines are writing about hydrogen too. And that's a good thing – the more attention, the better. But read those articles and you'll almost always run into the same two objections: hydrogen is horrendously expensive and there are barely any filling stations.

At H2 Rijders, we know this narrative well. And we understand where it comes from. But the reality is more nuanced – and we can prove it.

The price story doesn't quite add up – but it depends

A NEXO at just over seventy thousand euros: at first glance, that looks like a luxury car for people with deep pockets. But you don't measure the cost of a car at the showroom door. You measure it per kilometre – and that's where the calculator tells a more interesting story.

The outcome depends heavily on the petrol price at the time you run the numbers. When the pump creeps towards €2.50 per litre, the NEXO can hold its own against a regular family car weighing around 1,000 kg with a consumption of 5.0 litres per 100 kilometres – in terms of monthly energy costs and road tax combined. When petrol is cheap, the comparison gets tighter. But put in your own numbers: our Hydrogen or petrol? calculator shows exactly what it means for your situation.

What about the filling stations?

It's true that hydrogen stations are thinner on the ground than petrol pumps. But the real question isn't: are there enough stations across the country? The question is: is there one along a route you already drive?

For many drivers, the answer is yes. And with a range of 826 kilometres, you don't need to stop constantly – one fill per week or less is more than enough for most usage patterns. That makes the step to hydrogen driving considerably smaller than the headlines suggest.

Our Best price near you tool also shows you where to refuel most cheaply along your route.

Is this the moment to make the switch?

You may not even need to wait for the new NEXO. Right now, there are plenty of used hydrogen cars on the market – including Toyota Mirais from 2021 with barely any kilometres on the clock, from as little as €17,000. The technology is proven, the cars are young, and the prices are attractive. For anyone curious about hydrogen driving, the second-hand market is looking remarkably interesting right now.

Curious about your own situation? Take the test.