Honda shows next-generation hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain

[Caribbeans]

Honda shows next-generation hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain

It will end up in crossovers, trucks, and construction equipment

Autoblog | RONAN GLON | Nov 20th 2023

Honda has unveiled its next-generation hydrogen fuel cell at a trade show in Brussels, Belgium. Still at the prototype stage, the drivetrain is being developed for a wide variety of applications including hydrogen-electric cars, commercial vehicles, and construction machinery.

The list of carmakers pouring time and money into hydrogen technology is relatively short. BMW is working jointly with Toyota, it notably showcased a hydrogen-powered experimental X5 earlier in 2023, General Motors is developing the technology with Honda, and Hyundai is a major proponent of hydrogen-powered vehicles as well. Hydrogen needs to clear numerous hurdles before it can merge into the mainstream, including the near-complete lack of a refueling infrastructure, but Honda executives expect that these issues will soon be overcome.

"We believe demand for the technology will soon reach the critical mass required for full commercial deployment," Ingo Nyhues, the deputy general manager of business planning and development for Honda's European division, affirmed in a statement.

Honda stopped short of providing technical details about its next-generation hydrogen drivetrain. It merely described the system as a highly versatile unit that offers "compact dimensions, a powerful output, outstanding durability, and the ability to provide quick start-up times even in low-temperature environments." It sounds like development work is on-going, but the company has already identified four primary use cases.

First, its system will end up in a hydrogen-powered CR-V that will be sold in North America and in Japan starting in 2024. It's also being designed to power heavy-duty commercial vehicles, and engineers will begin testing a prototype developed jointly with Isuzu by March 2024. If everything goes according to plan, the prototype should morph into a production model that will go on sale in select markets by 2027...more
https://www.autoblog.com/2023/11/20/honda-shows-next-generation-hydrogen-fuel-cell-drivetrain/

Honda's big plans for hydrogen are not limited to cars and trucks

https://global.honda/en/hydrogen/

[Think. Again.]

1. Yes....

...Hydrogen seems destined for the larger vehicles, although I still believe we should be working toward H2 for ALL vehicles now, from the start, since it is truly 'renewable' without the limitations of finite resources such as lithium.

[Caribbeans]

3. Some are saying it is "destined for larger vehicles" but

when hydrogen is available at many or most truck stops literally no one without any time to waste will want to spend 30-45 minutes watching electrons flow into their 1,300 pound battery. And those invested in batteries think it is their job to prevent such blasphemous thoughts from even happening.

The US "rollout" of hydrogen stations has failed no doubt - FOR NOW - but it didn't have to. A little planning would have gone a long way.

Watch this BMW Vice President explain that and also that Germany's hydrogen stations are not plagued with the "issues" that have hamstrung H2 in California

Map of Germany's hydrogen stations - note the green

https://admin.h2.live/ceemes/page/show/map-widget-iframe-include?__t__=d1412f2a142d7dc5b9d44b9d041fe3bd&zoom=5&show_fueltype_switch=t&__language__=en&operator=H2%20MOBILITY

Now look at California's

https://h2fcp.org/stationmap

CA's stationmap is looking more green than it has in the past few months - maybe the operators realize they look like incompetent fools

[Think. Again.]

4. I absolutely agree...

...it's very clear to me that the U.S. is intentionally holding back our own advancements in every aspect of renewable, or 'clean', non-CO2 emitting energy technology.

I'm assuming we're holding back so strongly simply because the handful of people bringing in huge profits from the use of fossil fuels (with help from our taxpayer sourced oil subsidies) are paying off anyone they have to, to keep the public from demanding we finally get on board the new energy bandwagon.

My biggest worry is that we are just giving away any chance of future energy security, and my other biggest worry is that we are killing the future all together if we keep pumping out CO2.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Joint ventures because of the cost, few automakers develop their own anymore

Kilmer said only Toyota and Honda develop their own transmissions. It's years of R&D, development, testing, production. Hundreds and hundreds of millions. That why most cars are cobbled together with parts from suppliers. And many of them lack the durability as a result.

Honda engines are legendary but they've had goof ups too. Some drive train issues about 10-15 years ago on some models, a hiccup over DFI in cold climates, not noted for robust warranty support.