Honda, GM collaborating for hydrogen fuel-cell system

Honda Motor Company has big plans with hydrogen in 2023.

The Japanese brand announced on February 2023 that it will produce a new hydrogen fuel-cell system jointly developed with American carmaker General Motors (GM). 

The two automakers are also collaborating to produce two Honda battery electric vehicles using GM's Ultium platform, starting with the Honda Prologue crossover.

Honda is set to target annual sales of around 2,000 units of the new system in the middle of this decade. The company is also poised to increase its sales target to 60,000 units a year in 2030. 

Honda said to plans to expand the use of this new hydrogen fuel cell system not only for its fuel-cell electric vehicles, but also for construction machinery, power stations and heavy trucks. 

Why hydrogen fuel-cell technology?

Honda thinks that hydrogen fuel is the future of mobility.

The brand's most recent hydrogen fuel-cell model was the Honda Clarity, which had been in production until August 2021.

The company said its new system is two times more durable than older fuel-cell systems and costs two-thirds less to produce.

According to Tetsuya Hasebe, the general manager of Honda’s hydrogen business development division, fuel cells are more efficient in producing energy compared to electric batteries.

Furthermore, Honda wants to pursue its goal of being a carbon-neutral company as it is working on various solutions to climate change, not just electric vehicles. 

Honda's future in hydrogen

The Japanese automaker also plans to provide its hydrogen fuel-cell system to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. 

It will likewise reportedly be working with Isuzu and has already begun testing with Dong Feng Motors in China for a hydrogen-powered truck. 

Honda is heavily invested in this kind of technology and seeks to find other ways that it can be helpful aside from vehicles.

The push for hydrogen fuel-cell technology indicates what other brands are doing now as they seek to find other solutions to climate change as they move forward with the future of mobility. 

What do you think of Honda's push into hydrogen fuel-cell cars?

AutoFun Philippines Senior Writer VJ Bacungan contributed to this story.