Hydrogen Fuel cell cars still face challenges, but trucks are seeing progress. Isuzu and Honda recently started testing their GIGA FUEL CELL heavy-duty truck, with plans to release it commercially in 2027.
Honda has extensively invested in the development of fuel cell technology and has accumulated numerous patents. They collaborated with GM to launch an advanced and compact fuel cell module recently.
Honda is working with Isuzu to develop a new hydrogen fuel cell for their heavy-duty truck, the GIGA FUEL CELL. Isuzu has chosen Honda to provide fuel cells for their upcoming line of zero emission trucks. The GIGA FUEL CELL electric truck was revealed at the Japan Mobility Show in October, along with Isuzu’s new Erga EV battery-electric bus. It will start on-road testing in December.
‘Isuzu and Honda believe that FC technology, utilizing hydrogen as fuel resulting in no CO2 emissions, will be effective to achieve carbon neutrality of heavy-duty trucks which are required to achieve high-efficiency transportation (with the capability for long-distance driving, large load capacity, quick refueling),” the companies stated in a joint press release on December 22.
In a 20-year market outlook report from 2023 to 2043, IDTechEx notes that, although battery-electric vehicles have gained some traction, but their range is limited by the weight and space constraints of current lithium-ion battery technology. The use of fuel cell electric trucks can provide a solution for increasing range and reducing on-road exhaust emissions, although there are challenges related to cost and fueling infrastructure.
Reference- Electrive, Inside EVs, IDtechEX, Honda Newsroom, Fuel Cellworks