- Honda has revealed a brand new hydrogen fuel-cell stack and module
- Enormous good points greater than double sturdiness, greater than triple energy density, minimize price in half
- Will initially go into Honda’s personal hydrogen stationary energy mills
- Developed totally by Honda; settlement with GM stays in limbo
Honda on Wednesday unveiled its next-generation hydrogen fuel-cell module, and whereas it will not enter manufacturing simply but, the automaker guarantees main good points over its current-generation tech co-developed with Common Motors.
In a press launch, Honda stated the brand new fuel-cell module would launch with an output of 150 kw (201 hp), however in a smaller bundle, equating to greater than thrice the volumetric energy density of its present fuel-cell module, which debuted in 2023. Honda additionally expects the brand new unit to be greater than twice as sturdy as the present model, and claims it can price lower than half as a lot to provide.
Honda next-generation hydrogen fuel-cell module enhancements
Manufacturing is not anticipated to start out till 2027, nonetheless. Within the meantime, Honda will launch a stationary energy generator utilizing its current-generation fuel-cell tech. That is a part of the automaker’s technique to broaden its fuel-cell enterprise past vehicles to different functions, together with building gear and industrial vehicles.
The announcement is oddly timed, not solely as a result of Honda is not prepared to start out making the next-gen fuel-cell {hardware}, however as a result of current-gen {hardware}, developed and made with GM, is simply now reaching the market within the CR-V e:FCEV, a plug-in hybrid that gives 29 miles of battery-powered vary.
Like different fuel-cell autos, this spinoff of the favored Honda CR-V is out there solely in California, because it’s the one state with enough fueling infrastructure. These fueling factors have been a sore level lately because the autos seem to have made big progress whereas hydrogen, typically trucked in, has been in brief provide and costs of the gasoline have soared.
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell enterprise technique
The technology earlier to that, within the 2018-2021 Honda Readability Gas Cell, already made nice good points in sturdiness and energy density—permitting it to be packaged underneath the hood somewhat than taking on the cabin, thus additionally permitting extra space for hydrogen storage. So whereas infrastructure stays a difficulty, hydrogen tech itself has made speedy progress lately.
This new fuel-cell module’s impartial growth by Honda probably alerts a parting of the way between the automaker and GM, ending a fuel-cell growth partnership that goes again to 2017—though neither firm has made that official. Honda would not but affirm to Inexperienced Automotive Stories if GM is concerned within the new unit from a enterprise standpoint.
Within the meantime it seems that GM is procuring round; hydrogen applied sciences have been one of many areas coated in a memorandum of understanding between the automaker and Hyundai signed in September 2024. GCR has reached out to GM for perception on whether or not this announcement from Honda could sign a call between automakers on the latter.
–with further reporting by Bengt Halvorson
