Honda may be lagging behind the competition when it comes to battery-electric vehicles but on the other hand, there aren’t many carmakers in the world advanced as much as the Japanese carmaker in terms of hydrogen fuel cell technology. This company has been making such vehicles for a very long time, including the previous-generation Clarity, which will now be replaced by a completely new model. This time, it won’t be a sedan, but rather a crossover. More precisely, we are about to see the 2024 Honda CR-V Hydrogen Fuel Cell SUV.
At this point, details about the new model are still unavailable. We still don’t know details about power figures and similar things. On the other hand, the officials announced that the next generation will be significantly cheaper and this it will combine two technologies and become one of the most versatile vehicles in this aspect.
2024 Honda CR-V Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powertrain
So, the most interesting aspect of this SUV will be its powertrain. We are about to see the next-generation system and while power figures are still unavailable, we know that the Japanese carmaker will use some pretty advanced technology, way more versatile than before. Namely, the new 2024 Honda CR-V Hydrogen Fuel Cell SUV will combine fuel cell and battery-electric features.
More precisely, we will see not just a typical fuel cell setup, where you have H2 cells, then a chamber that turns hydrogen into electricity and then electric motors. Besides this system, Honda will also add a classic battery, which will be rechargeable via cable, just like a classic plug-in hybrid or electric car. In that way, the new model will feature better autonomy and also be more versatile, able to use two different sources of power, which isn’t something we used to see from the Clarity.
2024 Honda CR-V Hydrogen Fuel Cell SUV Design
Other than the powertrain, we expect to see a typical CR-V design, which has just been redesigned. So, we count on all the benefits that were introduced with the recent overhaul. There is the new, bolder and more elegant styling, along with upgrades in terms of ride quality and overall driving experience.
Of course, there is also the new interior design, which should feature the same layout in this case, with the same dashboard design that looks very elegant. The CR-V has always been one of the most spacious and comfortable SUVs in the class, so we expect the same from this model. Still, a bit of space might be compromised, due to the battery, H2 tanks and other components.
2024 Honda CR-V Hydrogen Fuel Cell SUV Will Be More Affordable
The biggest disadvantage of fuel cell vehicles is the price. Simply, this technology is still new and pretty expensive, so the Clarity was very expensive. Now Honda claims that they have achieved the next level of development, which includes the use of new materials and technical solutions, which will make the new system more affordable for about two-thirds. So, we don’t expect that the new 2024 Honda CR-V Hydrogen Fuel Cell SUV will be too expensive. Does this also indicates higher-volume sales, it’s hard to say at this point.
Hydrogenization of Commercial Vehicles.
Another important benefit of Honda’s latest achievements is that the new technology will be shared with other manufacturers, particularly commercial-vehicles makers. More precisely, the new powertrain is already in a testing phase in Chine, where Dongfeng Motors is already testing its trucks with this technology. Furthermore, Isuzu will also start testings in the next year, while Honda plans to start selling this technology to partners by the mid-2020s.