Where can I buy hydrogen and where is my nearest hydrogen filling station?

Hydrogen fuel-cell cars present an interesting alternative to battery-electric cars, as they can be topped up quickly at a refuelling station – just like a petrol or diesel car. Hydrogen cars also offer great range, with the second-generation Toyota Mirai saloon capable of covering roughly 400 miles on a single tank.

These cars don't feature any compromises in terms of space or practicality from batteries under the floor, either. Plus, the only emissions from the tailpipe are water, and if the hydrogen is created using 100% renewable sources, it’s entirely sustainable. But there are some limitations to hydrogen power.

Firstly, there are currently just two hydrogen fuel-cell cars available in the UK: the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai NEXO SUV, however, the latter is now only available to business customers. More models are planned, though, such as hydrogen-powered versions of the Renault Master LCV and Vauxhall Vivaro-e van, which will be arriving in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

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We also know that Land Rover is developing a hydrogen fuel-cell prototype based on the Defender, but that's all we know about the project so far. A version of the BMW X5 SUV with a hydrogen fuel-cell called the iX5 has been unveiled, too, but the German brand won't be offering fuel-cell cars for sale to the public until 2025.

Sports car maker BAC has also announced it's working on a hydrogen fuel-cell version of its single-seater MONO, meanwhile Hyundai is toying with the idea of making an FCEV sports car previewed by the Vision FK prototype in 2021 and, more recently, the internet-breaking N Vision 74 concept we drove in September 2022. But it remains unclear if we'll ever see a road-going version of either.

On top of the lack of hydrogen-powered vehicles available at this point in time, the refuelling infrastructure is severely lacking in most areas of the UK, as you'll see from our table of locations below.

​Where can I find a UK hydrogen refuelling station, how much does it cost and how do I fill up?

There are currently just six hydrogen filling stations open in the UK that you can use to fill up a hydrogen fuel-cell car. Three of these are located within the M25, with one in the Peak District and two in Scotland. Here's the full list:

At the time of wtiting, there are plans for three more stations, one in Belfast, another in Glasgow, and finally one at Cavendish House (Prince’s Wharf, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 6QY). There were several more hydrogen filling stations at one time, including some in Wales, but these have now closed, as have two previous Midlands locations, at Coventry University and the University of Birmingham. 

Shell has also closed all three of its hydrogen filling stations in the UK which were located at Beaconsfield Services, Cobham Services and Gatwick Airport.

Hydrogen cars are as easy to fill as a petrol or diesel one. It takes around five minutes to fill a tank. The pumps are similar to those at a conventional fuel station, and you plug the nozzle into your car in the same way. A kilogramme of hydrogen costs around £10-£15 in the UK. As an example, the Toyota Mirai’s fuel tank holds 5.6kg, so it'll cost more than £50 to fill up.