When it comes to new vehicle propulsion systems, all-electric vehicles are obviously getting the lion’s share of headlines. That said, some automakers are still developing hydrogen fuel cell technology, including Honda, which recently announced plans to launch a new fuel-cell-powered compact crossover to rival the Chevy Equinox EV.
Unlike the all-electric Chevy Equinox EV, which stores electricity exclusively from an external source, the upcoming Honda fuel cell electric vehicle, or FCEV, will also utilize hydrogen fuel to create the electricity required for propulsion. However, the new Honda FCEV compact crossover is also notable as the first North American market fuel cell vehicle to adopt a plug-in feature for EV driving, which means users can plug-in the vehicle’s onboard battery for charging purposes, rather than rely exclusively on hydrogen fuel. This will provide customers with easy around-town EV range, as well as quick hydrogen fuel refills for longer trips.
Critically, this plug-in hydrogen fuel cell technology is similar to tech currently under development at GM. Per a GM Authority exclusive published late last week, The General is currently working on a plug-in electric / hydrogen fuel cell combo for use with its medium-duty trucks, potentially offering the best of both worlds when it comes to propulsion technology. The onboard plug-in batteries may also potentially be used as a power take-off unit, allowing the GM truck to provide power to an external piece of equipment. For those who may be unaware, GM and Honda have collaborated on fuel cell tech in the past.
As for the new Honda FCEV set to rival the Chevy Equinox EV, Honda’s crossover will be based on the latest sixth-generation CR-V, although the Japanese automaker has yet to give the upcoming FCEV an official name.
Honda will begin production of its new FCEV in 2024, with further details expected closer to the model’s introduction. Production will take place at Honda’s Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Ohio, the same facility that built the Acura NSX. Honda plans to make its entire global auto portfolio either all-electric or FCEV by 2040.
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Comments
Are BEVs and FCEVs competing against each other? Usually, not many people consider BEV and FCEV together. The Honda will compete with Hyundai Nexo, the actual FCEV, rather than an electric crossover like Equinox EV.
The article states this FCEV is unique in that it can charge using an outlet or hydrogen, so it’s a BEV and FCEV at the same time.
its an EV first and foremost. The “battery” is whats different
“ This will provide customers with easy around-town EV range, as well as quick hydrogen fuel refills for longer trips.”
As long as don’t drive too far away from LA or San Francisco, where pretty much all of the H2 filling stations in the US are located. Al like ~50 of them.
Will Honda offer free H2 like Toyota for their Mirai? H2 is super costly at about $16/kg and Toyota gives Mirai buyers $15,000 in gas credit.
The Mirai gets about max 400 miles on a 5kg tank. So that’s about $0.20/mile. vs the average BEV at around $0.04/mile.
Not mention that the vast majority of H2 is sourced from methane and is incredibly energy intensive to make and store, and isn’t “green” at all.
rEVolutionary above has a great point. Anyone thinking they will be able to just do a “quick hydrogen fuel refills for longer trips” is not paying attention.
Where are all these refill stations? If you think finding a charging station is difficult, I bet the hydrogen stations will be even more difficult to find.
What is the size if this externally chargeabke battery?
In the Opel competence center in Rüsselsheim (Germany), which decades ago, then being part of GM, had already developed fuel cell electrical power trains, developed last year a similar power train as the one presented here for that Honda electrical vehicle and — as presented in the December 2 article linked above —for GM Pickups.
This power train consists of an electric motor driving the wheels (i.e. an EV) which gets its electric energy from a fuel cell, but alternatvely also from a 10 kWh battery, which can be charged externally, as “plug in”.
This power train drives the mid size vans of the various Stellantis brands like the Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro, giving 400 km with fuel cell, and 40 km with battery alone.
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