Honda’s hydrogen-powered CR-V is almost ready to roll into showrooms.
The fuel-cell powered zero emissions vehicle is set to enter production at the Honda Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio where the Acura NSX was previously built.
The vehicle uses a fuel cell being developed and manufactured through a joint venture with General Motors.
The fuel cell combines hydrogen stored in tanks with atmospheric oxygen in a catalyst, the chemical process generating electricity that powers the vehicle.
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The main advantages this design has over a pure battery-electric vehicle is that it can be refueled quicker and typically weighs less.
The main issue is the lack of a public hydrogen fueling infrastructure in the U.S.
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Southern California has the most stations, but Shell last week announced it was closing 55 locations in the area.
To address this, the CR-V will also have a small rechargeable battery for short trips. Think of it as a plug-in hybrid, but with the fuel cell instead of an internal combustion engine. The battery outlet can also be used to provide power to external electronic devices when the vehicle is parked.
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Honda hasn’t released the full specifications yet, but has posted a new video showing a prototype driving through Japan, to where it will be exported from Ohio. The design is largely the same as the standard CR-V’s, but the front design has been mildly updated.
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Pricing and the exact timing for availability in the U.S. haven’t been announced, but it will begin this year and be the only fuel cell-powered passenger vehicle built in the country.