Honda Launches Latest Innovation, Powers Class 8 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck

May 18, 2024 02:54 AM EDT

HONDA S2000 VEHICLE QUICK — (Photo : PIXABAY/diego_vep)

Honda is not the initial company to acknowledge the promise of hydrogen fuel cells within the heavy trucking sector. Despite this, Honda remains committed to hydrogen technology by introducing a new Class 8 truck fueled by Hydrogen. This truck concept complements Honda's previously unveiled hydrogen fuel cell SUV from earlier this year.

Class 8 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck

The most common element in the universe, hydrogen, contrasts sharply with the dearth of hydrogen filling stations. With its most recent significant project, the Class 8 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck Concept, a semi-truck powered by hydrogen fuel cells, Honda is reportedly defying convention, according to Motor1.com.

Honda is preparing to introduce a range of fuel-cell cars at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Las Vegas on May 20, along with its newest invention, the Class 8 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck. As per Motor1.com, although the truck itself is a concept, the fuel cells powering it are not merely theoretical-they are actively being mass-produced at the collaborative Honda-General Motors facility in Michigan.

Through this initiative, Honda aims to attract the attention of potential collaborators to collectively advance towards a hydrogen-driven future. Forbes reported that while Honda has not disclosed any specific customer or development partnerships for its trucking application, the concept truck being unveiled at the ACT Expo in Las Vegas bears a striking resemblance to the Peterbilt Model 579EV.

Peterbilt, a subsidiary of Paccar which also owns Kenworth, is closely tied to Toyota. The Peterbilt chassis has been fitted with three 80kW fuel cell modules manufactured by Fuel Cell System Manufacturing, a collaborative effort between GM and Honda based in Michigan.

According to The Verge, Honda has positioned the newly developed fuel cell system, boasting enhanced durability at lower costs compared to prior iterations, as a key element of its hydrogen business strategy created in collaboration with GM over the past decade. Powering the truck are three of Honda's latest fuel cell systems.

These hydrogen fuel cells operate by utilizing compressed hydrogen as fuel, emitting only water vapor as a byproduct. Several automotive manufacturers have recently embraced this technology for its benefits in heavy-duty vehicle and mobile power generator applications, as well as a means to accelerate the transition away from polluting gasoline-powered vehicles and align with their environmental objectives.

Hydrogen Cell Investment Risks

The Verge emphasized that investing in hydrogen comes with significant risks due to its high costs and the underdeveloped refueling infrastructure. The market offers only a few hydrogen vehicles for purchase, primarily concentrated in California where the state has made some limited investments in fueling stations. Despite this, the outlook is concerning, as Shell revealed plans earlier this year to shut down all seven of its hydrogen refueling stations in California.

Additionally, as per the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership report, only a meager 223 new hydrogen fuel cell vehicles were purchased in the US during the initial quarter of 2024, reflecting a substantial 70 percent decline compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.

Despite these figures, Honda maintains a positive outlook on hydrogen, particularly concerning commercial vehicles. The collaboration with GM further strengthens Honda's position in the realm of hydrogen technology, as GM is actively exploring various applications for its fuel cell innovations.