Honda CR-V e:FCEV production begins in the US

Honda has started manufacturing the CR-V e:FCEV in the US. The vehicle will be transported from Ohio to California and Japan, with the launch in Japan taking place before the market launch in California. However, the launch in both markets is scheduled for 2024.

Image: Honda

In the first week of June, Honda built the first CR-V e:FCEV at the Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Marysville (Ohio), US. PMC is the company’s limited-volume production facility for high-performance speciality vehicles, originally constructed to build the Acura NSX (Honda NSX) hybrid sports car.

The fuel cells of the CR-V e:FCEV come from Fuel Cell System Manufacturing, Honda and GM’s 50-50 joint venture production facility in Brownstown (Michigan), US. Vitesco Technologies makes the plug-in hybrid FCEV’s powertrain, internally called EMR3 (third-generation Electronics Motor Reducer). EMR3, co-developed by European, Chinese, and Japanese engineers, bundles the electric motor, power electronics, and reducer into a single component. The German supplier builds even its fuel cell stack bypass valve, used to regulate the airflow to and from the fuel cell stack.

Honda fits the CR-V e:FCEV’s fuel cell system, air pump, and powertrain under its hood. It has two hydrogen tanks and a high-voltage traction battery pack, which lies under the floor. When the driver presses the accelerator, hydrogen flows from the tanks to the fuel cell stack to generate power for running the electric powertrain.

The pair of hydrogen tanks have a combined fuel storage capacity of 4.3 kg, while the traction battery pack’s energy storage capacity is 17.7 kWh. The electric motor produces 130 kW and 229 lb.-ft. (310 Nm) of torque. According to EPA, the Honda CR-V e:FCEV offers a combined driving range of 270 miles (435 km) and an battery-electric driving range of 29 miles (47 km). Charging the battery pack takes two and a half hours while refuelling the hydrogen tank takes just three minutes.

The US availability of the hand-made Honda CR-V FCEV will be limited to the State of California, and customers will be able to only lease it, not make an outright purchase. In addition to the US, the plug-in hybrid hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle will be available in Japan. Honda has confirmed its availability in 36 of the 47 prefectures in its home market.

hondanews.com

2 Comments

about „Honda CR-V e:FCEV production begins in the US“
Rein
09.06.2024 um 02:00
After the latest round of closures from Shell there is now only 52 retail hydrogen filling stations in the entire US. Somehow I doubt Honda or any other automaker is going to spend billions of $ to build out a network in the US like Tesla & VW did for BEVs. There are some use cases for hydrogen. Consumer vehicles in the US is definitely not one of them.
Paul Young
10.06.2024 um 14:05
Well they did add the larger battery and PHEV feature so when you can’t get expensive hydrogen you at least have a crappy 50km EV.

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