Honda CR-V Hydrogen Fuel Cell SUV Will Be Built In The USA In 2024 With GM's Help
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Feb 2023
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Honda CR-V Hydrogen Fuel Cell SUV Will Be Built In The USA In 2024 With GM's Help
Honda CR-V Hydrogen Fuel Cell SUV Will Be Built In The USA In 2024 With GM's Help
Honda still believes hydrogen is the future.
Honda has announced that it will continue to electrify its products but that it will also take a proactive approach to increase the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel source.
This will not be the first time Honda is dabbling in hydrogen. It famously made the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle mainstream when it introduced the first-generation Clarity in 2008. Back then, the world wasn't ready for the technology, nor did the general population understand how prominent it would become in less than a decade. The second-generation Clarity also failed to find traction, mostly due to a high asking price and the lack of infrastructure.
Honda has since found a way to fix at least one of these problems by collaborating with General Motors. By teaming up to develop the next-generation fuel cell systems, the development cost is cut to one-third.
Honda will deploy its new fuel cell system in four core segments: FCEVs (cars), commercial vehicles, power stations, and construction machinery.
On the FCEV side, Honda will introduce an all-new model in 2024 in the USA and Japan based on the CR-V. Unlike Honda's previous fuel-cell vehicles, this model will have a plug-in function to recharge the battery. So it's basically a battery and hydrogen-electric vehicle. The FCEV CR-V will be built at its Acura NSX assembly plant in Ohio. It's the perfect place for it, as the staff is already familiar with batteries and low-volume models.
Commercial-wise, Honda is teaming up with Isuzu to create a prototype fuel cell-powered heavy-duty truck. Honda has already proved it's a viable business model, as it has built such vehicles in conjunction with the Dongfeng Motor Group. Honda Dongfeng started with demonstration drives in January this year.
