Once upon a time, in 2003, then-President George W. Bush in 2003 proposed $1.2 billion in funding for research for fuel-cell automobiles. About six years later, President Obama cut that funding in favor of other fuentes de energía. Thus, hydrogen cars were pushed onto the ever-expanding list of technologies that are destined to forever feel about ten years away.

On the other side of the world, in Japan, Toyota and Honda have been hard at work with hydrogen fuel cell cars. They have both spent upwards of millions in R&D. All of this was to make the new hydrogen-powered Mirai and Clarity. And it wasn’t for naught. To this day, many environmental activists and researchers find fuel-cell cars as appealing now as they were more than a decade ago.

Hydrogen is still the only way to get zero-emissions while driving with the same convenience as a gas vehicle. Unfortunately, only 40 public hydrogen pumps exist in the United States. Currently, only the Mirai and Clarity are sold in big coastal cities with hydrogen stations.  Los Angeles and New York do, however, promise to build more hydrogen stations within the next two years.

Cómo funciona una pila de combustible de hidrógeno:

Los coches de hidrógeno, que dependen menos de la combustión, utilizan un chemical process para cargar la batería de un vehículo eléctrico.

Hydrogen from the car’s tanks and oxygen from outside are sent to meet at the fuel cells. Those seals are a thin membrane separating the two elements.

El hidrógeno es atraído por el oxígeno del otro lado, pero sólo el protón del hidrógeno, no su electrón, puede pasar para encontrarse con el oxígeno.

Al no poder pasar, el electrón sube y rodea la membrana, lo que produce electricidad para cargar la batería que impulsa el motor.

¿Dónde se repostarán los coches de hidrógeno?

La mayoría de las 35 estaciones de hidrógeno de Estados Unidos se encuentran en la zona de San Francisco y Los Ángeles, y sólo dos en la costa este. Pero a diferencia de los anteriores coches de pila de combustible, el Mirai y el Clarity funcionan en inviernos fríos, por lo que Massachusetts, Connecticut y Nueva York Dicen que colectivamente agregarán 12 estaciones más (azules) al noreste para 2019.

Opciones de coches de hidrógeno para compradores estadounidenses:

Claridad de Honda

Honda’s Clarity is a crossover-hatchback with seating for five adults. To be honest, it doesn’t exactly scream “fun.” However, it apparently drives really well. There’s a “Sport” button on it that boosts its performance. Reviewers have remarked about the steering and brake system. Both of them apparently feel seamless to Honda’s OPEC-powered models. Of course, the car weighs 4,000-plus pounds with a zero-to-60 time in the double digits. It’s still not very thrilling; you don’t get gasoline thrills.

Performance takes a backseat to the tech included on beard. It includes a lane-departure warning system and automatic braking. The interior is suede made from recycled plastic. There’s a digital dash that has a ball that shrinks and expands to better coach you toward efficient driving. While you cannot buy Clarity—Honda says MSRP would hit near $60,000, you can get it for about $3,000 down and $369 a month. At the same time, Honda gives lessees a $15,000 credit card to spend on hydrogen fill-ups. It can even be used for up to 21 days of regular car rentals for longer trips. California residents get a $5,000 rebate.

Toyota Mirai

The Mirai is similarly built to the Clarity. However, it performs a lot better. The Mirai’s fuel cells direct electricity to top off the nickel-metal-hydride battery that powers the 153-hp drive motor. It has plenty of range. Acceleration is said to be a lot like a small diesel with excellent torque. The twin fuel cells in it make 670 horsepower and 1,325 lb-ft of torque. Imagine that in a Camry.

So, is hydrogen really the future of alternative energy? These automakers seem to think they’re onto something. Regardless, sound off in the comments and let us know!