Hydrogen cars are now officially the number 1 cleanest on the road after edging out EVs

Hydrogen cars have officially become the cleanest cars you can drive, beating even electric vehicles (EVs) in a new Europe-wide study.

According to the report, cars powered by green hydrogen create fewer emissions over their entire lifetime than any other type.

That includes battery-powered cars, hybrids, and petrol or diesel models.

It’s a big win for hydrogen technology, and a sign the future of clean driving may look different than we thought.

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Cars with renewable hydrogen

The report was released in July 2025 by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), which is the same independent group that exposed the Volkswagen diesel scandal back in 2014.

The study looked at all the major types of cars sold in the EU this year and compared how much pollution they cause over a typical 20-year life.

That means not just what comes out of the exhaust, but also how much pollution is created when building the car, producing its fuel, and eventually recycling it.

In the end, hydrogen cars came out on top, producing just 50 grams of carbon emissions per kilometer.

That’s even lower than battery EVs, which came in at 52 grams when charged with 100 percent renewable electricity.

But there’s a catch: hydrogen cars only hit these low numbers when using clean, renewable hydrogen made from sources like wind or solar power.

If they use hydrogen made from fossil fuels (called grey hydrogen), their emissions more than triple.

So the key isn’t just the car; it’s where the fuel comes from.

Hydrogen cars are growing in Europe

Luckily, clean hydrogen is starting to become more available across Europe.

Companies like H2 MOBILITY are signing deals to supply only certified renewable hydrogen, and new refueling stations are being built with their own green hydrogen systems.

The EU is also pushing for green hydrogen in transport, backing it with funding and regulations.

However, hydrogen cars haven’t quite taken off in the US, mostly due to the lack of hydrogen stations.

Battery electric vehicles are still a very clean choice, but they come with a higher carbon footprint upfront.

This is mostly because of how energy-intensive it is to make their batteries.

According to the ICCT, it takes about 17,000 kilometers (10,563 miles) of driving before an EV catches up in terms of emissions.

However, EVs still produce 73 percent fewer emissions than ICE vehicles over the course of their entire lifespan, so they remain a good choice from an environmental standpoint.

The bottom line? Both electric and hydrogen cars will play a key role in cutting pollution on our roads.

But for now, hydrogen cars powered by green energy are officially the cleanest cars out there.

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