Honda is still dedicated to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, even though they haven’t caught on widely in the market. So now they’re exploring other potential uses for fuel cells, such as in commercial trucks.
To demonstrate this possibility, Honda converted a semi truck from a diesel engine to fuel-cell power by installing three fuel-cell modules. These modules together generate 321 horsepower, allowing the truck to reach speeds up to 70 mph. Honda claims that the truck can travel up to 400 miles on a full hydrogen load.
These fuel-cell modules, developed by Honda in collaboration with General Motors, are more durable and now cost one-third of what older models did. Manufactured at a Honda/GM factory in Michigan, these modules are ready for practical uses.
Currently, Honda is looking for business partnerships in North America to implement this fuel-cell technology further. Although the converted semi truck is a one-off project for now, other automakers are also seeing fuel cells as promising for semi trucks. For example, Toyota and Kenworth have already created a demo fleet of fuel-cell trucks for ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach. Hyundai and GM also have similar projects in California.
These initiatives aim to cut emissions from semi trucks, helping reduce the overall carbon footprint of transported goods. While electric trucks like the Tesla Semi exist, they currently require large battery packs to achieve long-range travel, making them less efficient. In contrast, fuel-cell vehicles offer quicker refueling times, which is appealing to truck operators.
Honda sees four main areas for its fuel-cell technology: commercial trucks, stationary power sources, construction machinery, and passenger cars. For passenger cars, Honda recently introduced the 2025 CR-V e:FCEV, a hybrid that combines fuel cells with a battery pack. This allows for both hydrogen and plug-in electric charging, similar to traditional electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids. This model follows the Clarity Fuel Cell, which was discontinued in 2021.
Like the Clarity, the new CR-V e:FCEV will only be available in California due to its developed hydrogen infrastructure. Honda hopes that broader use of fuel cells in semi trucks and other applications will boost the demand for hydrogen, thus expanding the infrastructure and making fuel-cell cars more practical. However, if this doesn’t happen, Honda is also working on a new generation of battery-electric vehicles, called the 0 Series, set to launch in 2026.