<P> In 1807 Francois Isaac de Rivaz designed the first hydrogen - fueled internal combustion engine . In 1965, Roger Billings, then a high school student, converted a Model A to run on hydrogen . In 1970 Paul Dieges patented a modification to internal combustion engines which allowed a gasoline - powered engine to run on hydrogen US 3844262 . </P> <P> Mazda has developed Wankel engines burning hydrogen . The advantage of using an internal combustion engine, like Wankel and piston engines, is the lower cost of retooling for production . </P> <P> HICE forklift trucks have been demonstrated based on converted diesel internal combustion engines with direct injection . </P> <P> Hydrogen fuel cells are relatively expensive to produce, as their designs require rare substances such as platinum as a catalyst, In 2014, Toyota said it would introduce its Toyota Mirai in Japan for less than $70,000 in 2015 . Former European Parliament President Pat Cox estimates that Toyota will initially lose about $100,000 on each Mirai sold . </P>

How does a hydrogen fuel cell engine work