New GST Rates For Fuel-cell Vehicles; Here Are 5 FCVs We Need In India At 5% GST

There is great news for car buyers, as the new and updated GST rates on cars are set to make your next car more affordable. Apart from giving benefits on petrol and diesel cars, the government has also reduced the GST rates on fuel-cell vehicles, effective from September 22, 2025. 

In this report, we want to take you through the five fuel-cell cars that we think should be launched in India…

But before starting, let’s quickly understand what these fuel-cell vehicles are all about! A fuel-cell vehicle uses hydrogen as its main fuel source. Its key benefits include zero tailpipe emissions, which means that they are more environmentally friendly. Unlike EVs, it offers a fast refuelling time of 3-5 minutes. FCVs also offer an impressive driving range and are highly efficient.  

Now that you have a basic understanding of FCVs, let’s take a look at the 5 FCVs that we need in India! Let’s begin…

Toyota Mirai

The Mirai is Toyota’s hydrogen fuel-cell sedan, available in global markets. With a range of about 600-650 km and a refuelling time of about 5 minutes, it offers the eco-friendliness of an EV with the convenience of an ICE-powered vehicle. The Mirai was first launched in 2014 and is currently in its second generation. Back in 2022, the Mirai was even used for a pilot study into Hydrogen-powered vehicles, and the project was inaugurated by Mr Nitin Gadkari himself. 

The Mirai is a sleek-looking sedan with a well-packaged interior and respectable power figures of over 180 PS. While there is no news of Mirai coming to India yet, it would be exciting to see this Toyota sedan launch in India in the upcoming years. 

Toyota Crown

If you look at the Toyota Crown, you might take some time to digest the fact that it is a Toyota. It looks modern and premium from every angle and is over 5 metres long. Enthusiasts might know that the Crown is one of Toyota’s oldest and most popular nameplates, and is a very popular sedan in Japan.

While its motor output is similar to the Mirai's, it offers a greater range of about 820 km. Globally, the Crown is also available in strong-hybrid and electric versions. The Crown gets a luxurious interior that will further be an appealing factor to the Indian buyer. 

Honda CR-V 

Honda might be slow in bringing out new powertrains in India, but globally, Honda is really experimenting with various types of powertrain options, including hydrogen fuel cell technology. While we would be more than happy if Honda launches the regular CR-V in India, which is already an iconic moniker on our shores, the FCEV version would also be a nice option. 

The CR-V FCEV combines a hydrogen fuel cell system with a small 17.7 kWh battery (with plug-in EV capability). While its claimed range is not as impressive as the above-mentioned Toyota cars, it offers a decent enough range of around 450 km. As you would expect from a CR-V, the interior is well-equipped with all your modern tech. 

Hyundai Nexo

With the Japanese cars out of the way, let’s move to a Korean FCV this time, the Hyundai Nexo. If Hyundai ever decides to launch this car in India, they might have to go ahead with some other name, as the Nexo sounds too similar to a popular Tata car. In 2019, Hyundai announced its plans to introduce the Nexo in India, but the possibility of Hyundai launching the FCEV in India still seems far from reality. 

For those who don’t know, the Nexo is a mid-size SUV (similar to the Tucson), and its new-generation model was recently revealed. Hyundai claims to offer more than 700 km of range from a five-minute charge, and that is something that would be really useful in getting rid of any type of range anxiety. With the Nexo, you get plenty of safety and convenience features to ensure that you are travelling in utmost comfort. 

BMW iX5 Hydrogen

While you might be familiar with the regular X5, the iX5 Hydrogen is something that might come as a new concept to you. The Hydrogen-powered version is, for now, a concept vehicle, based on the X5 platform. It likely will go into production by 2028, and it would be interesting to see if BMW considers launching it on our shores. 

With the iX5 Hydrogen, BMW claims a refuelling time of just 3-4 minutes, and it offers a range of over 500 km. With over 400 PS of power, it takes about 6 seconds to reach the 100 kmph mark from standstill. It is loaded with all the top-notch features that you get with the standard X5. 

ZigSays…

Well, never say never, but for now, the introduction of any of the above-mentioned cars seems uncertain. That being said, we really hope to see progress being made in the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle industry, so that we soon get to witness the exciting cars mentioned above. With the GST rate going down, this might be the right time for brands to consider stepping into the FCV space. 

However, there is still a long road ahead for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to make a mark in India. We have seen pilot programmes being conducted in India, but considering the lack of existing infrastructure to support hydrogen vehicles, it is unlikely for even popular FCEVs like the Mirai or Hyundai Nexo to be launched in India anytime soon. 

But, with the government pushing towards cleaner sources of energy, the future possibilities for such FCEVs to be made available to those who want to go green without the use of lithium-ion batteries might still be there! Out of the cars mentioned above, which one would you like to see in India?