- Honda has revealed a brand new hydrogen fuel-cell stack and module
- Large beneficial properties greater than double sturdiness, greater than triple energy density, lower price in half
- Will initially go into Honda’s personal hydrogen stationary energy turbines
- Developed fully 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 beneficial properties over its current-generation tech co-developed with Basic 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 3 times 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’ll price lower than half as a lot to supply.
Honda next-generation hydrogen fuel-cell module enhancements
Manufacturing is not anticipated to begin 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 increase its fuel-cell enterprise past vehicles to different functions, together with development gear and business vans.
The announcement is oddly timed, not solely as a result of Honda is not prepared to begin 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 provides 29 miles of battery-powered vary.
Like different fuel-cell automobiles, this spinoff of the favored Honda CR-V is obtainable solely in California, because it’s the one state with enough fueling infrastructure. These fueling factors have been a sore level lately because the automobiles seem to have made big progress whereas hydrogen, generally trucked in, has been in brief provide and costs of the gasoline have soared.
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell enterprise technique
The era earlier to that, within the 2018-2021 Honda Readability Gas Cell, already made nice beneficial properties in sturdiness and energy density—permitting it to be packaged underneath the hood moderately than taking on the cabin, thus additionally permitting extra space for hydrogen storage. So whereas infrastructure stays a problem, hydrogen tech itself has made speedy progress lately.
This new fuel-cell module’s unbiased improvement by Honda probably alerts a parting of how between the automaker and GM, ending a fuel-cell improvement partnership that goes again to 2017—though neither firm has made that official. Honda would not but verify to Inexperienced Automobile Experiences if GM is concerned within the new unit from a enterprise standpoint.
Within the meantime it seems that GM is purchasing round; hydrogen applied sciences had 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 choice between automakers on the latter.
–with further reporting by Bengt Halvorson