Carmaker Stellantis said on Wednesday it would discontinue its hydrogen fuel cell technology programme and no longer launch a range of hydrogen-powered vehicles this year, as it sees no development of the market in the mid-term.

Stellantis said it would end efforts to develop hydrogen vehicles as it focuses its resources on electric cars and hybrids to meet EU’s tougher emissions standards. The decision leaves Stellantis ’s hydrogen joint venture with Michelin and Forvia facing an uncertain future,

For some years now, detractors of battery electric vehicles have held up hydrogen as a clean fuel panacea. That sometimes refers to hydrogen combustion engines, but more often, it's hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles,