While the automotive world remains fixated on massive battery factories and ever-larger lithium packs, a select group of major manufacturers has been pouring billions into an alternative zero-emission technology: hydrogen. Far from the headlines dominated by Tesla and BYD, companies like Toyota, BMW, Hyundai, Honda, and General Motors are advancing hydrogen both as fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and, in some exciting cases, as direct combustion power. The latest spark igniting fresh interest? BMW’s New Patent Reveals a 100% Hydrogen-Powered Engine — a sophisticated pre-chamber ignition system that finally solves many of the historical knock and efficiency problems that plagued hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2-ICE).

Two Paths to Hydrogen Propulsion

Hydrogen power is not a single technology, but two totally different directions that are taken by automakers simultaneously. The most prevalent and the original one is the fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) wherein hydrogen is combined with oxygen in a stack to generate electricity which drives the electric motors producing only water vapor. Mirai by Toyota, Nexo by Hyundai and the new CR-V e:FCEV by Honda are all on this path.

The second option, which is significantly less talked about, yet a game changer, is the hydrogen internal combustion engine (H2-ICE). In this case, Direct combustion of hydrogen is performed in a modified piston engine - imagine a conventional engine that uses the cleanest fuel you have ever heard of. A 100 percent Hydrogen powered engine is introduced under the New Patent by BMW through the use of advanced pre-chamber direct injection so that all small three-cylinders and even high performance V8s can be run with a 100 percent of hydrogen with the same efficiency of a traditional diesel and no carbon emissions at all.

BMW: Keeping the Joy of Driving Alive with Hydrogen Fire

BMW has never been ashamed of the opinion that battery-electric vehicles cannot appeal to all customers, in particular those that are enthusiasts and enjoy the sound, reaction and emotion of a combustion engine. As the Munich-based company retails millions of EVs with the sub-brand i, the company has been secretly conducting research on hydrogen in the past 40 years. Since 2023, iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet has been registering actual road miles with Toyota fuel-cell technology, but the real news in 2025 is combustion-oriented: A New Patent Reveals a 100% Hydrogen-Powered Engine would allow BMW to make future M models never compromise the trademark BMW driving feel. BMW maintains that it is not a question of either/or situation and hydrogen will be used together with batteries, particularly in long-range and high-performance cars. Also read Hydrogen vs. Batteries: Which Green Tech Will Dominate Indian Roads by 2030?

Toyota and Hyundai: The Hydrogen Veterans Refuse to Back Down

Toyota is the company that has made more political and financial investments in hydrogen than any other company. Mirai sedan has been brought to the second generation having a range of over 400 miles and Toyota is already testing prototypes of hydrogen combustion engines such as the GR Corolla H2 and Hilux pickup. An even stronger collaboration with BMW will involve the two giants to co-develop next-generation fuel-cells as BMW intends to introduce its first series-production hydrogen car in 2028.

Hyundai-Kia isn’t far behind. The Nexo SUV is still the leader in the range of all production FCEVs, the wild N Vision 74 concept, a rolling hydrogen hybrid performance lab, has a serious development program. Hyundai plans to make hundreds of thousands of fuel-cell systems in a year and hydrogen is essential to it in passenger vehicles, as well as heavy trucks.

Honda and GM: A New Plug-in Hydrogen SUV Hits the Road

After stepping away from the Clarity Fuel Cell, Honda returned stronger in 2025 with the CR-V e:FCEV — the first production hydrogen vehicle that can also plug in for short electric-only trips. Co-developed with General Motors (who supplies the latest fuel-cell stack), the CR-V proves hydrogen can work in practical family SUVs while addressing range anxiety in areas with sparse stations.

The Advantages That Keep Automakers Committed

Why persist with hydrogen when batteries seem to be winning? Refueling takes three to five minutes — the same as gasoline — versus 30-60 minutes of fast charging. Range remains consistent in freezing weather, unlike batteries that can lose 30-40% capacity. For larger vehicles, hydrogen avoids the extreme weight penalties of gigantic battery packs. Perhaps most importantly for premium brands, hydrogen allows the preservation of traditional engine character: BMW’s New Patent Reveals a 100% Hydrogen-Powered Engine that promises the roar and instant response enthusiasts crave, but with only water coming out the tailpipe.

The Infrastructure Challenge — and Real Progress

The greatest challenge has always been the chicken and egg issue of stations and vehicles. However 2025 is a real stride: California has more than 60 working stations, Germany and Japan have more than 100 and China is construction at an incredible speed. The government and other companies have invested billions in major projects such the European Hydrogen Backbone and U.S. regional hubs. Green hydrogen, which is being generated with renewable electricity, has dropped to less than $3/kg in the best projects and is expected to drop to 1.50/kg in 2030, to be competitive with gasoline on a cost-per-mile basis. For more information visit AdvisorWheels.

The Road Ahead: 2026–2030

The next five years will be decisive. Limited new models arrive in 2026–2027 (updated Mirai, Nexo successor, Honda CR-V expansion), followed by BMW’s first series hydrogen model in 2028 — likely an X5 variant that could use either fuel-cell or the patented combustion technology. If green hydrogen production scales and another 5,000 stations come online worldwide, hydrogen will move from niche to genuine alternative.

Hydrogen won’t replace batteries — urban commuters and short-range drivers are perfectly served by today’s EVs. But for long-haul travelers, performance enthusiasts, and regions with abundant renewable energy, hydrogen offers something batteries simply cannot match today. With BMW’s New Patent Reveals a 100% Hydrogen-Powered Engine showing that even the soul of driving can be preserved in a zero-emission future, the quiet hydrogen revolution might just be warming up.