The primary hydrogen gasoline cell client automobile for America was introduced Tuesday by Honda.
With a reputation that doesn’t fairly roll off the tongue, the CR-V e:FCEV combines a hydrogen gasoline cell system with plug-in charging functionality and has an EPA driving vary score of 270 miles.
Honda said the autos will probably be accessible for buyer leasing in California beginning later this yr and expects preliminary gross sales of two,000 items yearly.
Co-developed with Basic Motors, Honda mentioned the CR-V e:FCEV’s new gasoline cell system, made in Michigan, affords improved sturdiness, larger effectivity, and decrease price in comparison with Honda’s previous-generation gasoline cell system.
The brand new automobile, produced in Ohio, features a 110-volt outlet that delivers 1,500 watts of juice for powering gadgets equivalent to small residence home equipment, transportable air conditioners, energy instruments, and tenting gear.
Cutaway view of the 2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV inside elements
Honda additionally said it has doubled the sturdiness of its gasoline cell system by making use of corrosion-resistant supplies and managed suppression of degradation, in addition to enhancing the low-temperature efficiency of the system.
Infrastructure Problem
“It’s attention-grabbing to see Honda re-entering the market, having canceled its Readability in 2021 because of poor gross sales. It exhibits there’s nonetheless definitely curiosity within the expertise,” mentioned Ramsy John, enterprise improvement supervisor at IDTechEx, a world market analysis agency.
“One of many predominant limitations to gasoline cell autos is the better upfront price,” he informed TechNewsWorld. “The announcement doesn’t state an estimated value for the automobile however does state they’ve managed to cut back the gasoline cell price by two-thirds in comparison with the earlier Readability, which may assist in seeing the associated fee turn out to be akin to a battery electrical automobile.”
“Nevertheless,” he continued, “given the vary is basically much like many battery electrical automobiles at present, and EV charging infrastructure is a lot extra extensively developed, it may nonetheless be a problem for gasoline cell automobiles to see market success.”
Fueling infrastructure has been a formidable barrier to the adoption of each gasoline cell and battery-electric autos (BEVs).
“Gasoline cells and EVs share the identical problem by way of an insufficient fueling infrastructure, however there are orders of magnitude extra EV charging factors than hydrogen stations,” mentioned Edward Sanchez, a senior analyst within the automotive apply at TechInsights, a world expertise intelligence firm.
He defined that there are an estimated 41,000 publicly accessible charging factors in California, in comparison with 55 hydrogen fueling stations within the state, a 3rd of that are in Los Angeles County alone. Nationally, he continued, there are roughly 140,000 public charging factors and 59 hydrogen fueling stations, virtually all of that are in California.
2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV at a hydrogen refueling station
“Plus, the price of constructing out a hydrogen fueling infrastructure is far larger than putting in EV charging factors, and on a chemical/molecular degree, hydrogen is difficult to retailer and distribute,” Sanchez informed TechNewsWorld.
“The most important hurdle stays fueling infrastructure,” he mentioned. “That is additionally a problem with EVs, however the greatest distinction is EV charging stations might be arrange comparatively rapidly and at comparatively low price in comparison with hydrogen, which requires far more costly {hardware} and infrastructure.”
“The autos themselves have confirmed dependable for essentially the most half,” he added. “Fueling infrastructure is hydrogen gasoline cells’ greatest Achilles’ heel.”
Not a Mass Market Merchandise
“Hydrogen-powered automobiles, whether or not gasoline cell or combustion, have by no means caught on within the mainstream, particularly within the U.S., largely because of challenges with the fueling infrastructure, which has had main points in reliability and uptime,” Sanchez noticed.
Markets aren’t driving adoption in different nations, both. “The Japanese OEMs’ curiosity in hydrogen has been largely pushed by incentives and encouragement by the Japanese authorities,” Sanchez mentioned.
“The CRV is probably going finest seen as an indication that the tech works and to work out any kinks within the gasoline cell and associated ecosystem earlier than far more costly platforms are requested to make use of it. A hydrogen-powered FCEV [fuel cell electric vehicle] heavy truck will price upwards of $800,000 earlier than subsidies,” added Robin Gaster, a non-resident senior fellow on the Info Expertise & Innovation Basis, a analysis and public coverage group in Washington, D.C.
“Preliminary gross sales at 2,000 don’t counsel any intention to make this a mass-market product, even when that is solely the first-year goal,” he informed TechNewsWorld.
John famous that battery electrical automobiles are deployed in a lot bigger numbers and are already turning into extensively accepted. He identified that in 2023, over 9.6 million battery electrical automobiles have been bought throughout China, Europe, and the U.S., 32% greater than the earlier yr. As compared, gross sales of gasoline cell automobiles have been solely round 8,500 globally, practically half of the yr earlier than.
“Hydrogen-powered automobile gross sales have collapsed in South Korea — two have been bought in January — regardless of huge subsidies, and there’s no traction in California both,” contended Gaster.
“Bluntly,” he continued, “BEVs have zoomed previous hydrogen as the popular clear energy possibility for mild autos. They’ll quickly be out of sight, and producers will change to heavy autos, the place hydrogen gained’t win both, although the race is barely nearer.”
Carry on Truckin’
Gasoline cell programs could also be higher fitted to heavier autos, particularly long-haul vehicles, maintained Sam Abuelsamid, principal analyst for e-mobility at Guidehouse Insights, a market intelligence firm in Detroit.
“The quantity of battery that you just want for a long-haul truck is prohibitive due to the time it takes to cost it,” he informed TechNewsWorld. Against this, the time to refuel a gasoline cell is on par with the time it takes to fill a fuel tank.
Lengthy-haul vehicles additionally journey fastened routes, enabling higher management of infrastructure prices.
“Customers wish to drive wherever they need and wish infrastructure all over the place,” Abuelsamid mentioned. “For long-haul trucking, you actually solely must construct fueling stations alongside main routes so you’ll be able to have fewer hydrogen stations to assist that use case.”
However even the heavy-truck window could also be closing quick on FCEVs. “The MCS [Megawatt Charging System] protocol in improvement with CharIN [Charging Interface Initiative] is aiming to convey the time to recharge to close parity with diesel or gasoline cells,” Sanchez mentioned.
“If this premise is confirmed in the true world, and satisfactory heavy truck charging infrastructure might be constructed that may successfully cowl nationwide trucking routes, this might probably deal a deadly blow to hydrogen within the heavy truck market going ahead.”
2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV Key Specs and Options
ENGINEERING(Honda Gasoline Cell Module)
Estimated Energy Output
92.2kW
ENGINEERING(Electrical Motor)
Peak Horsepower
174 hp
Peak Torque
229 lb.-ft.
BATTERY
Capability
17.7 kWh
FUEL
MPGe Rankings (Metropolis / Hwy / Mixed)
61 / 52 / 57
EV Vary (miles)
29
Driving Vary (miles)
270
Required Gasoline
Compressed Hydrogen Gasoline
Gasoline Tank Strain
10,000 psi
Gasoline Tank Capability (kg)
4.3
WHEELS AND TIRES
Wheel Measurement
18-inch
Tire Measurement
235/60R18
EXTERIOR MEASUREMENTS
Wheelbase (in.)
106.3
Size (in.)
187.6
Top (in.)
66.6
Width (in.)
73.4
Monitor (in., entrance/rear)
63.4 / 64.0
KEY FEATURES
Honda Sensing®
•
Superior Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Physique Construction
•
10.3-inch Digital Instrument Show
•
9-Inch HD Touchscreen
•
Wi-fi Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™ Compatibility
•
Heated Entrance Seats
•
Heated Steering Wheel
•
Wi-fi Cellphone Charging (Qi)
•
Bose Premium Audio (12-speaker)
•
Driving Modes
Regular, Eco, Sport, Snow
(Supply: Honda)
Editor’s Observe: The photographs featured on this article are credited to Honda.
