General Motors has announced that it will stop work on next-generation H₂ fuel cell development through its HYDROTEC brand. Production of H₂ fuel cells for data center and power generation through Fuel Cell System Manufacturing LLC, a GM joint venture with Honda, will continue.

While H₂ holds promise for specific high-demand industrial applications like backup power, mining, and heavy trucking, the path to reaching a sustainable business in fuel cells is long and uncertain. High costs and limited H₂ infrastructure in the U.S. has limited consumer adoption of fuel cell-powered vehicles. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, only 61 H₂ refueling stations exist nationwide, compared to more than 250,000 level 2 or faster electric vehicle charging locations.

GM is sharpening its focus on the technologies that show the clearest path to scale and customer value. The company will concentrate R&D and capital resources on batteries, charging technology, and EVs – which have clear market traction, rather than on H₂, which has yet to fulfill its potential.