Rumors of a hydrogen Tesla started getting people excited, but is there really a Model H on the way? If it’s true, it would present a major departure from Elon Musk’s historically unflattering stance on hydrogen. In fact, Musk has referred to fuel cell drivetrains as “extremely silly,” so if he’s developing a Model H, something significant must have arisen to change his mind so drastically.
Fact check: Is Elon Musk planning to release a Model H?
Reports of a supposed hydrogen-fueled Tesla originated online in several videos and articles across various platforms, with one source being cited in particular. The write-up claims that Musk has shifted his view on hydrogen as a fuel for the automotive industry and intends to integrate fuel cell drivetrains into Tesla offerings by the end of this year.
Musk posted on social media in 2020:
“Exactly, fuel cells = fool sells.”
In another post, he stated:
“Fuel cells should be called fool cells! Such a silly choice for cars.”
Reputable fact-checking website Snopes investigated the rumor about a Tesla Model H hydrogen car and determined that it was most definitely false. Elon Musk has not made a sudden shift in mindset and the likelihood of him ever doing so is slim.
Instances of fake news, some of which has potentially significant repercussions if believed, are prolific, such as the rumor that Americans would be benefiting from a Stimulus Check in March 2025.
How did the fake claim about a hydrogen-fueled Tesla manage to fool people?
The claims about the hydrogen Tesla circulated throughout 2024 and the multiple unscrupulous sources that reported on the fake news through videos, articles, and posts on almost all platforms gathered tens of thousands of views. Many people believed the hype and shared the unreliable report, contributing to it being so pervasive on the internet.
The source that started the rumor originally falsely stated:
“This is a U-turn from Elon Musk, who predicted that Tesla would integrate hydrogen fuel cells into its automobiles by 2025. For years, Musk was a critic of hydrogen, and he once referred to the fuel as ‘extremely silly.’ Now, he is pinning his hope on the technology to power the growth of Tesla.”
Not everyone was fooled into believing in the Model H
A great many netizens fell for the claim, but at least as many did not. One Reddit user saw straight through the hoax:
“Fake. Elon has never confirmed this and is against it.”
Another YouTube viewer posted:
“They got you good! This is a joke video generated by AI.”
It is actually possible to combine hydrogen fuel with battery electric systems; Japanese powerhouse brands Honda and Toyota have both pulled it off. But it’s apparent that Tesla has no plans to move in this new direction. If it had, we would have heard about it from the manufacturer directly and it would have been reported on by the major tech and motoring publications.
All we can expect are more EVs out of the innovative and futuristic American brand, and anyone who was counting on a hydrogen Tesla will have to remain unfulfilled.
What are the challenges of hydrogen as a fuel?
Hydrogen fuel cell technology has a number of challenges that few manufacturers are willing to invest in overcoming. The main ones are:
- Infrastructure development: Hydrogen refueling stations and related transport infrastructure are still limited, and it would take massive investment to set up a refueling network to make the vehicles attractive to drivers.
- Production and storage costs: Hydrogen production is costly and storage solutions need further innovation to make this form of fuel more widely accessible.
It’s important for conscientious consumers of news to only trust information from official or verifiable sources. The proliferation of misleading, false, and downright fake news on the internet is nothing new, so users should be aware of how to identify fake news and verify facts for themselves. They should also avoid sharing information they are not sure is correct, and in this way, untrustworthy information (such as reports that the LA fires were caused by laser attacks) is limited from spreading.