Most hydrogen today is created from natural gas in a process that generates carbon dioxide. But scientists say fuel cells are still good for the environment, because making hydrogen produces far fewer emissions than burning fossil fuels. Hydrogen could be produced more cleanly by using alternative energy sources like solar and wind power to split water into hydrogen and oxygen atoms. And it can be generated from renewable sources like sewage and animal waste.

Auto companies, universities and government labs have been working for decades to make fuel cells cheaper, more reliable and more efficient. They have come a long way. In the early 2000s, hydrogen concept cars cost automakers as much as a million dollars to make. The Mirai will sell for $57,000. Another car already on the market, the fuel-cell version of the Hyundai Tucson, is available on a $499-a-month lease. Auto executives and fuel-cell researchers say they are confident the price of this technology will fall sharply in coming years, just as the cost of hybrid cars fell in the last decade.

But cost isn’t the only problem. There are just 13 hydrogen fueling stations in the United States today, according to the Department of Energy. Big investments will be needed, and some are on the drawing board. The state of California, where many of the first fuel-cell cars will be sold, plans to spend up to $200 million to build 100 fueling stations in a decade. Countries like Japan and Germany are also investing in refueling stations. And car companies like Toyota and Honda are providing loans to help their business partners build hydrogen stations.

The development of fuel-cell technology has been helped along by federal and state government support. The Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations invested in hydrogen research to varying degrees. Government agencies should continue to provide support, especially in creating a network of refueling stations. Eventually, as the number of fuel-cell cars on the road increases, gas stations will themselves invest in hydrogen.

Some critics of hydrogen cars say they remain expensive and impractical compared with electric vehicles, which can be plugged into the existing electricity system. But that is shortsighted. The real competition for hydrogen-powered and electric vehicles is the gas guzzler. There is little doubt that the world will need many transformative technologies to deal with climate change.