Honda published a short video of the upcoming CR-V FCEV that is set to debut in 2024. The hydrogen-powered version of the popular SUV is still covered in camouflage but shows the extra functionality made possible by the presence of a battery pack. When it arrives later this year, the Honda CR-V FCEV will be North America’s first production vehicle to combine a battery pack with a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. The presence of a battery pack means that the SUV can be charged as a regular EV when there is no hydrogen pump nearby.
This will make it less dependent on the
hydrogen refueling network which is still quite limited. Furthermore, the
bi-directional charging feature will allow owners to use the battery juice for
powering other electronic devices – such as the coffee maker shown in the video
teaser. Honda has yet to announce the battery capacity or the size of the
hydrogen tanks, so no one knows the driving range of the model. The new
powertrain which was developed in collaboration with General Motors, is said to
cost one-third as much compared to the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell while being
twice as durable.
Visually, the fuel-cell EV sports a
redesigned nose with a slimmer grille and larger bumper intakes differentiating
it from the gasoline-powered CR-V. Other changes include the addition of a
charging port on the front fender and the clear taillight clusters. Note that
this is not the first time we laid eyes on the camouflaged prototype, which has
been spotted testing in Japan and North America since late 2023.
The Honda CR-V FCEV will be produced at
the Marysville plant in Ohio. Besides North America, the SUV will also be
offered in the Japanese market. As a refresher, the only other FCEV models that
are currently on sale are the Toyota Mirai sedan and the Hyundai Nexo SUV.
There’s also the BMW iX5 Hydrogen using Toyota’s technology, but this one is
only available as part of a global pilot fleet program.
