Honda to Build CR-V Fuel-Cell in US

Click for more information.

Honda said today in Japan that it will assemble an all-new hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) based on the recently launched CR-V compact SUV starting in 2024 at its Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC)* in Marysville, Ohio.

The new CR-V-based FCEV might become North America’s first production vehicle to combine a plug-in feature with FCEV technology in one model, which enables the driver to charge the onboard battery to deliver EV driving around town with the option of hydrogen refueling for longer trips.

“As we accelerate our plan to produce Honda battery EVs in the United States, we also will begin low volume production of fuel cell electric vehicles there to further explore their great potential as part of a sustainable transportation future,” said Gary Robinson, vice president of Auto Planning & Strategy for American Honda Motor Company.

Click for more information.

FCEVs have a high-pressure hydrogen tank instead of a gasoline tank found on conventional vehicles and generates electricity inside fuel cells to drive the electric motor, moving the vehicle without releasing CO2 or any other harmful emissions.

The 6th generation CR-V is now significant in the Honda electrification strategy with CR-V hybrid-electric models positioned at the top of the lineup and projected to represent about 50% of annual CR-V sales.

*Performance Manufacturing Center

The PMC is a small volume, specialty manufacturing plant with hand-assembled vehicles. Since opening in 2016, the PMC has been responsible for production of the Acura NSX supercar, Acura PMC Edition vehicles such as TLX, RDX and MDX, along with Honda Performance Development race cars. FCEVs need at this time special assembly procedures. This approach is similar to Honda’s Tochigi, Japan plant that made both the original NSX supercar starting in 1989 and, later, the Honda FCX Clarity FCEV in 2008.