Hydrogen's main selling point is that it's faster to fill a tank with the stuff than it is to recharge a lithium-ion battery. So it's a seductive alternative that suggests a driver can keep all the convenience of their gasoline engine with none of the climate change-causing side effects. But in reality, that's pretty far from true.

Stellantis has pulled out of the Symbio joint venture, which was counting on the automaker as a client for 80 percent of its output of hydrogen fuel cells.

Carmaker Stellantis said on Wednesday it would discontinue its hydrogen fuel cell technology programme and no longer launch hydrogen-powered vehicles this year, raising questions about the future of hydrogen subsidiary Symbio.