Comment by panick21_

They can also generate electricity domestically. In fact, that is much, much, much, much easier then producing hydrogen.

Its an idiots version of geoplitics to bet on hydrogen just because you can produce it from electricity.

Because factually speaking nobody produces it from electricity, and its never competitive. So it would never be used by most people over natural gas produced hydrogen.

> hydrogen vehicles are somewhat immune to oil or rare earth spikes.

They would not be immune to rare earth anymore then EVs. In fact, it requires more complex supply chains an more exposure to more stuff.

> but the capability will be there if they need it

No it isn't. They do not have the capability to role it out. Producing a few prototype vehicles an a few fuel stations isn't really relevant to the question of can you produce 10 million of them, and fuel them reliably and cheaply. And Japan has no capability to do that.