Honda, one of the first manufacturers to truly believe in hydrogen as an alternative fuel source is not backing down from its belief and is doing everything it can to ensure the viability and future of the technology. Honda recently announced a significant expansion into its hydrogen technology, which includes a hydrogen fuel cell electric CR-V, its most popular car, coming to the United States and Japan in 2024. Featuring a system Honda co-developed with General Motors, it is said to have double the durability of the one currently in the Honda Clarity, as well as costing only one-third the price to produce.
The New Fuel Cell System Will Be Used Across Segments
Honda is planning on utilizing its new fuel cell system across several different industries including, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), commercial vehicles, power stations, and construction machinery. For the FCEV side, the new CR-V coming to the United States and Japan in 2024 will feature a hydrogen fuel cell plug-in hybrid option, allowing customers to charge the car via a wall outlet at home, which should ease concerns many consumers have with the very limited hydrogen refueling infrastructure. The hydrogen CR-V will be built at Honda's plant in Ohio where it already assembles the hybrid Acura NSX. Honda expects that by 2030, it will have developed a fuel cell system that is half the cost and twice the durability of this new cell co-developed with GM. As for commercial vehicles, Honda has teamed up with Isuzu to create a prototype fuel cell-powered heavy-duty truck that will begin on-road testing in the first quarter of 2024. The idea is for Honda to develop fuel cells for commercial construction equipment and plans to apply them to excavators and wheel loaders first. The automaker has said that since hydrogen refueling stations are currently few and far between, it will focus its attention not just on selling fuel cell products, but ensuring there is a consistent hydrogen supply in the U.S.
Honda Has Big Plans With The Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology
Honda doesn't just want to power vehicles with its hydrogen technology and is currently developing backup power systems using fuel cell systems reclaimed from the Honda Clarity. Starting with a 500 kW power station on its California campus, the plan is for these hydrogen power stations to eventually make their way to Honda production facilities and data centers worldwide. Honda is also planning on taking its fuel cells to the final frontier: space. The auto giant is working closely with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency to develop technology that will use solar energy to electrolyze water and create oxygen and hydrogen. Honda refers to this as "circulative renewable energy system" and the idea is that the fuel cell would generate electricity and water from oxygen and hydrogen. Honda has set the ultimate goal of going completely carbon-neutral by 2050 for all of its products and corporate activities.