Dismal Sales Undercut Carmakers Pushing Hydrogen Fuel Cells

A cutaway model of the Toyota Motor Corp. Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle.

Nicholas Takahashi

Subscriber Benefit

Subscribe

Toyota Motor Corp. and Hyundai Motor Co. have put their weight behind hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles in the push to reach net zero emissions, but dismal sales suggest customers remain extremely wary.

FCVs accounted for only 0.02% of global passenger vehicle sales last year, according to a report published Thursday by Bloomberg NEF, and making any long-term projections is difficult until they reach 0.1%, or about 80,000 vehicles.