Honda: The next step in FCEV evolution - H2 View

A leader in the fuel cell vehicle space since the beginning, offering the first fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in the US, Honda has long believed in hydrogen as a clean fuel and its role in a carbon free future.

Whilst the company has had a foot in the hydrogen market for many years now, its boom moment arguably hit in December 2016 with the launch of its Honda Clarity Fuel Cell – a landmark moment for both Honda and the FCEV market.

Speaking to H2 View in a recent interview, Marc Deutsch, Manager Electric Vehicles at American Honda Motor, said, “The Clarity Fuel Cell was the next step in the FCEV evolution.”

“The stack in our new Clarity Fuel Cell is 35% smaller than our previous system which allows us to package the entire system (stack, motor and control) in the engine compartment. This is a key result of our efforts to advance our core fuel cell stack technology.”

“Furthermore, the Clarity platform was designed to accommodate three different electrified powertrains, the fuel cell, battery electric, and plug-in hybrid. In this, the model served as an in-market testbed for different low emission and zero emission options.”

“The car featured the latest technology at launch including a heads-up display and the most premium interior of any Honda vehicle at the time. Due to its clever packaging of the powertrain, it provides a large, comfortable cabin and as such there was no passenger accommodation deficit as there was with competitor vehicles.”

As well as manufacturing the vehicles themselves, Honda is also active in the hydrogen station development side of things, and told H2 View that it is deploying its Clarity Fuel Cell at a rate that is in proportion to the hydrogen infrastructure development.

On the topic of vehicle roll-out, Deutsch explained that sales of the Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle are over 1,600 since the vehicle’s launch in late 2016. In the last four years, Honda has averaged approximately 400 Clarity Fuel Cell sales per year in the state of California.

All of the above is part of Honda’s commitment to carbon neutrality. “Honda’s ultimate commitment is carbon neutrality and sees electrification as the pathway to get there. Currently we have made two global commitments towards that goal,” Deutsch said.

“Number one, to have three quarters of new vehicle sales electrified by 2030, and number two, to be carbon neutral by 2050. Honda believes that fuel cell vehicles are one of the zero emission solutions for powering future mobility.”

Hear more from Honda in H2 View’s upcoming April magazine, in which Marc Deutsch speaks more about the company’s offerings and commitment to hydrogen.

In the same feature, we will also look at offerings from Hyundai and Toyota.