Toyota has vowed to make hydrogen cars available for the public to buy in Australian showrooms within a couple of years, once more refuelling points open.

Australians will be able to buy a hydrogen-powered car within “a couple of years” – as soon as enough refuelling points are installed so motorists aren’t left stranded.

Japanese car giant Toyota and South Korean conglomerate Hyundai launched hydrogen-car fleet trails in Australia within days of each other earlier this month – though the latter was first to register its fleet locally.

Both brands have fleets of 20 hydrogen-powered vehicles each – Toyota in Melbourne and Hyundai in Canberra – and are in a neck-and-neck race to fast-track the rollout of the future tech.

However, Toyota is already gearing up to make the Mirai hydrogen car available for the public to buy within two to three years from now.