US hydrogen fuel car sales make history in second quarter of 2023
August 3, 2023US sales reached the highest ever quarterly volume.
In the United States – specifically in California – hydrogen fuel car sales volume improved in Q2 2023. In fact, it not only improved YOY (year-over-year) but, according to an InsideEVs report, it also reached the highest quarterly volume ever.
Over one thousand new hydrogen cars were sold in the US.
During the second quarter of this year, 1,076 new hydrogen fuel cars were sold in the United States, according to the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership’s FCV sales data from Baum and Associates. This data is based on the fuel cell vehicle sales sold by a dealer to a fleet or retail customer.
InsideEVs notes that the number of hydrogen fuel cars sold in Q2 2023 is 34% higher than a year ago. Moreover, it marks the third time in history that sales have surpassed 1,000 units in a quarter and the highest result ever, with the US’ previous best being 1,034 in Q1 2021. While InsideEVs knows that the difference is “not a groundbreaking change” it’s still interesting.
What else is interesting about this record sales result is that it was reached mostly due to the sales of Toyota Mirai vehicles in California. According to data from Cox Automotive on Toyota’s quarterly market performance in the United States, the Mirai was up 64% to 1,054 units, which is the first time that this fuel cell vehicle sold over 1,000 units in the quarter. This is quite a notable feat considering only 40 Hyundai Nexo cars were sold, in comparison.
Only time will tell if hydrogen fuel car sales will see steady growth.
While it is possible that this growth will continue in the third quarter, the reality is that US hydrogen fuel car sales are essentially limited to California.
Credit: Photo by depositphotos.com
Furthermore, the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo are the only FCV models that are widely known to be available for purchase, which limits the sales potential of these zero-emission vehicles.
On top of that, currently more Californians (nearly 100 times more) drive EVs than they do hydrogen cars.
More H2 refueling stations have opened.
On the positive side, as of May of this year, California has 58 retail hydrogen refueling stations in operation. This is five more stations than the state had in December 2022, and another seven are currently under construction.
More H2 refueling infrastructure will go a long way in helping to continue the growth of hydrogen fuel car sales in California, at least.
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What’s your take on Fuel Cell and Plug?
I heard positive and negative news about Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle. Can You give me an honest verdict about them . I understand that people are buying EV but aft Seeing report of Rapidly Spread Fire after a Collision that Driver and Occupants cannot get out because there was no control on the Door Locks , I am having a second thought about EV. I wan The FCV but there seem To be a concerted effort to suppress Information as well as Sales on this type because it doesn’t fit someone’s liking. Very Frustrated.
I think that EV are still early in the testing stage. They’ll still have to figure out many safety things that could kill you or harm you. I’ll take time. We welcome hydrogen also we should have both. I kind of trust hydrogen more.
Ì believe retrofit for like 460 Ford. Be great and clean up existing low mpg. Vehicles
What we seriously need is a proper hydrogen fuel creation & distribution network. Hydrogen is truly the only way to move forward, but no one will feel secure in the direction unless you can easily refuel. I personally don’t trust much of EV manufacturing, range, or lifespan. There are also inherent issues in H2, like pressurization, containment in accidents, and seepage loss, but these are just hurdles and not massive issues like recycling of batteries, power grid limitations, or raw materials sourcing.