Honda Developing New Generation Hydrogen Fuel Cell System for Mass Production by 2027
Honda is developing its own hydrogen fuel cell system with more speed and efficiency than its previous ones, according to Inside EVs.
Called the Honda Next Generation Fuel Cell Module, the automaker has said it has more power, is more durable, is smaller, and is more cost-effective than its previous fuel cell, which was co-developed alongside General Motors. For this new fuel cell system, Honda is developing it on its own.
The new fuel cell has a rated power output of 150 kilowatts, which is nearly double that of the module it developed with GM. It also brings a higher output voltage, ranging between 450 and 850 volts, which enables the use of 800-volt high-voltage batteries in plug-in hybrid vehicles and a hydrogen fuel cell as a backup power source.
In addition, the fuel cell’s maximum net efficiency increased from 56.8% to 59.8%, with volume falling to 557 liters to 300. These factors have allowed for a spike in volumetric power density, reaching 0.50 kW/l.
Though the new fuel cell module has an increased weight of 551 pounds from the previous 454 lb, Honda has said it has a fifth of the manufacturing cost of what was used in the discontinued Honda Clarity, and is over 66% more durable.
Honda shared that the fuel cell would undergo mass production beginning in 2027, but didn’t specify whether it would initially be used for passenger cars or something like power generators or heavy machinery.
