In October of this year, recent president-elect Donald Trump made controversial comments regarding hydrogen powered cars. Hydrogen is rapidly emerging as a promising innovation in the automobile industry, poised to play a significant role in the transition to more sustainable transportation. As concerns about climate change and air pollution intensify, the demand for alternative fuel sources to replace traditional internal combustion engines has never been higher.
The current state of hydrogen vehicles
Hydrogen cars are emerging as a significant addition to green engines which are on the road. While electric vehicles (EVs) have garnered the most attention in recent years, hydrogen-powered vehicles (HPVs) are increasingly seen as a viable, complementary solution in the zero-emission future of mobility.
Hydrogen fuel cell technology works by combining hydrogen with oxygen from the air in a chemical reaction that generates electricity which powers the vehicle’s motor. Unlike battery electric vehicles which require long charging times, hydrogen vehicles can be refueled in just a few minutes. These one up EVs in terms of convenience comparable to gasoline-powered cars. Additionally, hydrogen fuel cells produce zero emissions with the only byproduct being water vapor, making them an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional vehicles.
Trump’s recent controversial comments
During a rally Trump held in Michigan, he made a controversial statement about the up and coming hydrogen-powered vehicles, pledging to end their production. He claimed, “You’re going to build electric cars and you’re going to build all kinds of cars except hydrogen. There will be no hydrogen. They tend to blow up. And once they blow up, you are not recognizable anymore.”
These comments came with a false story where Trump claimed that Marjorie Taylor Greene got blown up when driving a hydrogen powered car all while she sat in Trump’s audience. These comments from Trump highlight the pervasive mistrust and skepticism many people feel about alternative engines. While EVs have a better reputation among consumers, globally, hydrogen vehicles account for approximately 0.1% to 0.2% of the total vehicle fleet in comparison to the global 2-3% of EVs and plug-in hybrids.
Elon Musk’s influence on Trump’s comments
While Trump may oppose hydrogen vehicles, he has expressed some support for EVs. Despite his intentions to rollback strict emission regulations on internal combustion engines, he has stated that EVs are suitable for a “small slice” of the population. Trump’s support for EVs come with his recent promotion of Elon Musk to lead the Department of Government efficiency for his second presidential term. Musk is the CEO is Tesla, a leader in EV innovation and production.
Trump has stated that he plans to put a 60% import tariff on Chinese products. His recent comments towards hydrogen vehicles (which stand in opposition to his support of EVs) may have to do with his policies to stamp out Chinese competition and to promote the U.S. automotive industry. The majority of hydrogen vehicles are produced by automobile companies based in Japan and South Korea.
Musk’s plans for hydrogen
Musk has previously called hydrogen a “stupid fuel” to consider for alternative engine fuel solutions. However, his company made headlines earlier this year when Musk seems to have changed his mind about hydrogen with Tesla’s announcement of their production of a hydrogen-powered vehicle as early as 2026. This change of heart could come from Musk’s notice that to remain leaders of sustainable fuel technology, Tesla will have to diversify their model lineup.
It remains unclear what Trump’s plans will be for the production of hydrogen vehicles as well as if they will ever take effect. Other than possible policy restrictions, hydrogen vehicles still face significant hurdles in terms of production costs, refueling infrastructure, and public awareness. The limited number of hydrogen refueling stations (roughly 500 globally) remains one of the key obstacles to the widespread adoption of hydrogen powered cars. Additionally, hydrogen production is still largely reliant on natural gas although green hydrogen which is produced from renewable energy sources is gaining momentum.
