Honda recently introduced its first hydrogen-powered car, the CR-V e:FCEV in the US.
A day after Honda's new car had been introduced in the US, the vehicle was showcased at the 2024 Smart Energy Week in Japan. Honda's product department manager told DIGITIMES that US customers attending the event in Japan placed orders on the spot.
The vehicle is expected to be officially launched in California, US. The launch date is set for the summer of 2024.
Honda is optimistic about developing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). The company has been actively developing hydrogen-powered models in recent years.
The CR-V e:FCEV is a collaboration between Honda and General Motors (GM), built on a new second-generation fuel cell module platform. The vehicle boasts a maximum range of 435 kilometers when fully fueled with hydrogen and electricity by combining hydrogen fuel and battery dual-energy replenishment methods.
Honda has not yet officially announced pricing for the vehicle. However, the product department manager told Digitimes that the company's new car is scheduled to be launched in the summer of 2024. The United States and Japan will be the initial markets, he added.
America first, America first
The US state of California is expected to receive priority over Japan for the car's release. This is mainly because the vehicle is manufactured in Ohio, USA, making it the only FCEV passenger car currently produced in the US.
In addition to refueling at hydrogen stations, the CR-V e:FCEV also boasts charging capabilities. It is the first time a Japanese car manufacturer has introduced a vehicle with rechargeable plug-in capabilities.
The vehicle has a pure electric driving range of 46.7 kilometers and is equipped with V2X bidirectional power supply technology. The J-1772 charging socket in the front of the vehicle can provide external power of 110V, 1,500W.
Honda began basic research on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the late 1980s, followed by fuel cell stack development. With the introduction of the new CR-V e:FCEV, Honda has now launched six models.
As the first model to be produced in the US, the CR-V e:FCEV is expected to benefit from the substantial green energy subsidies introduced by the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The act is to promote local hydrogen energy industry development, which allows Honda to expand its market share.
Honda's decision to target the Japanese and US markets is also influenced by Japan's government's strong commitment to hydrogen energy development. However, despite several brands considering hydrogen-powered vehicles as the ultimate carrier of clean energy, the slow pace of infrastructure development, such as hydrogen refueling stations, in many countries, and unclear policies in multiple countries pose challenges for Japanese car manufacturers focusing on hydrogen vehicles at this stage.
Japan continues to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen fuel cell technology. The country is actively participating in constructing hydrogen fuel supply infrastructure, such as refueling stations. In addition, Japan is continuously expanding its market share of hydrogen-powered vehicles and aims to achieve the goal of producing hydrogen, using hydrogen, and connecting with hydrogen.
