Imagine a world where your commute is fuelled by the universe’s most abundant element: hydrogen. Emitting nothing but water vapour as a byproduct, when produced using renewable energy, hydrogen has long held promise as the fuel of the future. Yet for all its potential, hydrogen still seems stuck in the realm of what might be. 

Not all energy solutions regarded as revolutionary alternatives to fossil fuels have lived up to expectations. Ethanol for example, once seen as a viable replacement for petrol, fell short of its hype. Now, with Donald Trump having signed orders to promote fossil fuels on his first day back as US president, critics see hydrogen-powered cars heading down a similar path.

Carmakers in Asia, however, have refused to give up on the dream of hydrogen powering the future. South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group has set aside a record $16.7bn for next-generation products, including hydrogen fuel-powered products and infrastructure this year. Japan’s Toyota is still betting on hydrogen cars after investing in hydrogen fuel cell technology for more than three decades. Government subsidies in the region are also going strong. This week, South Korea started offering additional subsidies for hydrogen vehicle purchases, including $20,500 in subsidies for a Hyundai Nexo passenger car.