Honda Plans to Produce FCEVs in 2024, Starting with the CR-V

The rapid growth of battery-op EVs’ popularity has prompted many traditional automakers to jump ship. Big brands like Volvo and Volkswagen have already cemented their commitment in going full-blown EV in the future. While some jump, others might swim instead.

For some Japanese marques however, they still retain some faith in alternative options, such as hydrogen fuel cells and hybrid EVs, to name a few.

Joining its close-knit rival Toyota in keeping the combustion engines alive, Honda has unveiled plans to produce fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) by 2024. Production is set to take place in the US, with the US-only sixth-gen CR-V poised to be the first in line to get the fuel cell makeover.

New Honda FCEVs will go alongside its full-on battery EVs (BEV) line-up in achieving the marque’s ambitious goal of making all of its global auto sales being zero-emission vehicles only, by 2040.

While also focused on building more EVs via Honda’s joint venture with General Motors (GM) and Sony, Honda US’s vice president Gary Robinson said the carmaker also tries to explore potentials in BEV alternatives, such as the FCEV.

“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,” the exec added.

Honda US is poised to begin production of the all-new FCEV powertrains at their Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Ohio. Known for building small volume specialty vehicles, the PMC previously hosted the manufacturing of Honda’s greatest supercar (for now), the famed NSX.

With the NSX’s production recently stopped, this leaves the PMC’s assembly line ready for its next venture, which is to leverage its team’s skills and expertise in producing FCEV CR-Vs in a much smaller volume.

This new revelation also marks Honda’s return in venturing into fuel cell technologies, with the marque previously involved in producing some fuel cell-powered cars. Honda’s dabbling in fuel cell technologies began way back in 2002, where it launched the FCX – the world’s first production fuel-cell vehicle.

The upcoming 2024 Honda CR-V FCEV will underpin the sixth-gen CR-V that was recently launched in the US. As for now, no specific details were disclosed on the CR-V FCEV’s specifications, as well as technical details on Honda’s all-new hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. Honda US said the new FCEV will be the first to adopt plug-in feature in the North American market, thus enabling it to be driven in full-electric mode.