HONDA

New Honda CR-V, developed in conjunction with General Motors (GM), will have propulsion with more advanced fuel cell technology

Thirty years after starting to develop hydrogen fuel cell technology, Honda took another step forward by showing in Brussels a very advanced prototype of what will be the solution to be integrated into the new CR-V, developed in conjunction with General Motors (GM).

The Japanese manufacturer continues without providing many details about this new generation of fuel cells, opting instead to highlight the versatility of the new system which, according to him, lends itself to the most varied uses, from industrial machinery to stationary power plants, including heavy vehicles ( in partnership with Isuzu) and, of course, light vehicles.

The revelation took place on the occasion of European Hydrogen Week, promoted by the European Commission in partnership with Hydrogen Europe and the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. As part of this initiative that took place from the 20th to the 24th of November, the deputy general director of Planning and Business Development at Honda Motor Europe, Ingo Nyhues, argued that “soon” the demand for this technology will “reach the necessary critical mass for its commercial implementation”.

It is unknown when it will be “soon”, but it is already known that the sixth generation of the Honda CR-V will have a fuel cell electric version (FCEV), to be produced in the United States of America and… in small quantities . Manufacturing will take place at the Performance Manufacturing Center, in the state of Ohio, next year. Now, according to Car and Driver, Honda only plans to make 2000 units of the new generation fuel cell system by 2025, and it is highly likely that some of these units will be destined for industrial partners, even to demonstrate the promised versatility of the solution in the most different applications. If the Japanese manufacturer's plans revealed in 2022 continue, the CR-V FCEV will remain in the United States of America and some examples will be exported to Japan.

Technically, little information remains, only knowing that the electric version of the Japanese SUV, in which hydrogen enters the equation, will mount two gas tanks at the rear, while at the front the drive system and the fuel cell assembled as one. The new variant will be plug-in, that is, it will incorporate a rechargeable battery but with a low capacity, which means it will necessarily ensure few kilometers covered at the expense of the energy stored in that accumulator.

Taking faith in the promises of the man who heads Honda's Energy Solutions business division in the USA, Ryan Harty, Honda's new generation of fuel cells in collaboration with GM allows production costs to be reduced by two thirds, compared to the old Clarity, on the one hand because the intention is to produce more and the “scale” effect alone lowers prices, on the other hand, because the new system uses cheaper “innovative materials”. The same person in charge also highlighted the superior durability (allegedly the longevity of the system doubles) and the increase in start-up efficiency, with greater speed even in extreme cold conditions.

It is worth remembering that Honda, together with Hyundai and Toyota, top the list of the very few car manufacturers investing in the development of zero-emission vehicles driven by electricity generated on board through a hydrogen fuel cell. The FCX was Honda's first electric car with a fuel cell (polymer electrolyte) to hit the road, in 2002. It had 80 hp and a range of 274 km between refills, according to the EPA method. Six years later, the FCX Clarity appeared, with the fuel cell now featuring a proton exchange membrane. The range increased to 435 km and the power to 134 hp. Finally, in 2016, the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell arrived on the scene and the brand returned to the polymer electrolyte fuel cell to propose a saloon with 174 hp and a range of 589 km (EPA). The bar has been rising and costs have been falling, so we just have to wait and see what the 2024 CR-V has in store for us.

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