Honda builds U.S.-made fuel cell vehicle ready for market

Honda is starting production of its hydrogen fuel cell plug-in hybrid vehicle, billed as the first such vehicle ready for sale in the United States.

Its Honda CR-V e:FCEV is now rolling off the assembly line at the automaker’s Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Ohio. The vehicle claims to be the first model to feature a U.S.-made fuel cell system with plug-in electric charging capability.

The compact crossover boasts an EPA-rated range of 270 miles (435 km), combining the fuel cell system with rechargeable charging to provide up to 29 miles (47 km) of electric-only range for urban driving.

Its fuel cell system is manufactured at Fuel-Cell System Mfg., in Brownstown, Michigan, a joint venture production facility established by Honda and General Motors. It claims higher efficiency and increased refinement, with double the durability performance and two-thirds reduced cost compared to the Honda Clarity Fuel-Cell’s previous fuel cell system.

Powertrain features include a dual hydrogen tank subassembly containing hydrogen compressed to 10,000 psi via a new on-site station used to fill the CR-V e:FCEV. The chassis is an aluminum space frame welded to a multi-material unibody construction including thicker steel bodywork.

Patrick McIntyre, Head of PMC, said: “Producing a zero-emission fuel cell electric vehicle is one more step towards Honda’s global goal of achieving carbon neutrality in our products and operations. »