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.
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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.
