How much is the Honda hydrogen car?
There is no current Honda hydrogen-powered car for sale in the United States as of 2025. Honda’s hydrogen model, the Clarity Fuel Cell, was priced around the mid-$60,000s when it was offered and production has largely ended. The company has since prioritized other zero-emission technologies and battery-electric vehicles.
This article explains the pricing history of Honda’s hydrogen car, its present status in markets where hydrogen vehicles exist, and what potential buyers should know as the landscape for fuel-cell cars evolves.
Pricing history of Honda’s hydrogen car (Clarity Fuel Cell)
Below is a snapshot of what buyers paid when Honda publicly marketed the Clarity Fuel Cell, noting that pricing varied by year and market and that the model is no longer in regular production.
- United States: Official MSRPs hovered in the low-to-mid $60,000s range; many units were sold or leased under pilot programs, and hydrogen fueling costs were additional to the vehicle price. Federal/state incentives for fuel-cell vehicles varied over time.
- Japan and select markets: List prices were reported in a similar ballpark (roughly the high $50,000s to low $70,000s in USD equivalents, depending on exchange rates and year), with limited distribution outside core regions.
Note that prices changed by model year and market, and Honda no longer lists a hydrogen passenger car for sale in most regions. If you’re checking current options, contact a local Honda dealer to confirm what’s available and any exceptions in your area.
Current status of Honda’s hydrogen program and market context
As of 2025, Honda has largely paused formal consumer sales of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles in the United States and many other markets. The Clarity Fuel Cell program was scaled back, and Honda has redirected emphasis toward battery-electric vehicles and other zero-emission technologies. Hydrogen ownership remains heavily influenced by fueling infrastructure, government incentives, and regional availability.
Where hydrogen cars are available and how Honda compares
Global availability of hydrogen passenger cars is concentrated in a few regions. The most visible models from other brands include the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo, which are offered in select markets with varying levels of infrastructure support. Honda’s current lineup does not include a hydrogen-powered option for sale in these markets, making Honda’s hydrogen car price question largely historical for consumers in many regions.
Summary
Short take: Honda does not currently offer a hydrogen car for sale in the U.S. or most major markets. The Clarity Fuel Cell, Honda’s primary hydrogen model, carried a price in the $60,000s when it was sold and has been largely discontinued, with ongoing hydrogen-car programs now limited or paused. If you’re exploring hydrogen options today, other brands like Toyota and Hyundai offer fuel-cell vehicles in limited regions, but buyers should consider infrastructure and incentives carefully. For the latest, check with a local Honda dealer or official Honda communications to confirm current availability and pricing.
Is hydrogen fuel cheaper than gasoline?
No, hydrogen fuel is currently more expensive than gasoline on a per-unit-of-energy basis, although its cost per mile can be comparable due to the higher fuel efficiency of hydrogen vehicles. However, the high cost of hydrogen is a major barrier to adoption, with current retail prices being significantly higher than gasoline prices in most markets. Future cost reductions are predicted as production scales up, but significant challenges remain in infrastructure and production costs.
Current cost comparison
- Higher per-unit cost: A kilogram of hydrogen costs significantly more than a gallon of gasoline, which is reflected in the higher price per unit of energy.
- Comparable cost per mile: Despite the higher per-unit cost, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are about 2.5 times more efficient than gasoline engines, making the cost per mile potentially similar to that of gasoline cars.
- Market challenges: The current high cost of hydrogen is due to production and infrastructure challenges, including a lack of price transparency and a lack of market competition.
Future outlook
- Predicted cost reduction: Proponents believe that as production volumes increase, the cost of hydrogen will decrease, making it more competitive with gasoline.
- Government and industry efforts: The U.S. Department of Energy and other organizations are working to reduce the cost of hydrogen fuel through initiatives like the Earthshots program.
- Potential to be competitive: With advancements in technology and increased economies of scale, it is possible that hydrogen fuel could become cost-competitive with gasoline in the future.
Key factors to consider
- Efficiency: The higher efficiency of FCVs is a key factor in making them cost-competitive with gasoline vehicles on a per-mile basis.
- Infrastructure: The limited availability of hydrogen fueling stations is a major challenge to adoption, and building out this infrastructure will be a significant undertaking.
- Production cost: The cost of producing hydrogen is currently high, but experts believe that it could decrease significantly in the coming years as production scales up.
How expensive is it to refill a hydrogen car?
Car in the United States by $40,000. Plus they'll give you $15,000 fuel card so it's $55,000 discount off the normal price which is incredible. There's a reason for that.
What is the biggest problem with hydrogen cars?
The biggest problems with hydrogen cars are cost, infrastructure, and production efficiency. The cost of producing green hydrogen is high, and it is currently more expensive to operate than electric vehicles. There is also a severe lack of hydrogen refueling stations, making them impractical for most drivers. Furthermore, most of the hydrogen currently produced is made from fossil fuels (gray hydrogen), which is polluting.
Cost and efficiency
- Expensive fuel: Hydrogen fuel is significantly more expensive to produce and purchase than electricity for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).
- Inefficient production: The process of creating hydrogen, especially "green" hydrogen through electrolysis, is energy-intensive, resulting in a lower overall energy efficiency compared to charging a BEV directly.
- Expensive cars: The cars themselves are expensive to buy due to high production costs and limited manufacturing volume.
Infrastructure
- Lack of refueling stations: There is a massive shortage of hydrogen fueling stations. For example, there were only about 45 in the US as of 2021, compared to thousands of gas stations and charging points for BEVs.
- High cost to build stations: Building a single hydrogen refueling station can cost millions of dollars, making it a difficult investment for companies.
Production and safety
- Polluting production: Most hydrogen today is "gray" hydrogen, produced using fossil fuels, which releases carbon emissions. Producing it cleanly (green hydrogen) is much more expensive.
- Handling and storage issues: Hydrogen is a gas that must be stored under high pressure or at extremely low temperatures, which requires complex and bulky tanks.
- Safety concerns: Storing and handling high-pressure hydrogen gas poses safety risks, including the potential for leaks, explosions, and embrittlement of some metals.
How many miles per gallon does a 2025 CR-V hybrid get?
The 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 43 mpg city / 36 mpg highway for front-wheel drive (2WD) models and 40 mpg city / 34 mpg highway for all-wheel drive (AWD) models. Combined EPA estimates are 40 mpg for 2WD and 37 mpg for AWD. Actual mileage will vary based on driving conditions, speed, and other factors.
This video reviews the 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid and discusses its fuel economy: 56sAUTO TVYouTube · Jun 13, 2025
2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid MPG estimates
- 2WD: 43 mpg city / 36 mpg highway / 40 mpg combined
- AWD: 40 mpg city / 34 mpg highway / 37 mpg combined
Factors that influence MPG
- Driving conditions: City driving often results in better MPG for hybrids due to regenerative braking, while highway speeds can decrease efficiency.
- Speed: Driving faster than the speed limit, especially over 70 mph, can reduce mileage.
- Drive mode: The 4-mode drive system (ECON/Normal/Snow/Sport) on hybrids can affect fuel efficiency.
- Other factors: Using air conditioning or heat can also impact fuel economy.
