Both the Germans and the Japanese are pushing hydrogen cars pretty hard while keeping their hand in electric cars. They have no chance of energy independence as long as they depend on oil for internal combustion engine cars.
I don’t think this stuff is a fad. Price/performance for these cars has improved steadily over the last 10 years. Its likely in the next 5-10 price/performance of these cars will meet or beat internal combustion cars. Then their sales volumes will go up parabolicly.
Unless the makers of battery-only EVs can get around the current slow charging times, there's potential utility in hydrogen.
Even if Elon Musk calls fuel cells "Bullsh*t".
Germany is jumping off a no-nuke cliff. Japan is drifting away from nuke power.
How do they plan on liberating all this wonderful hydrogen from the bonds that lock it up if they don’t have nuke power at their disposal?