Honda and GM partner to create next-generation hydrogen fuel cell system

Honda and General Motors have revealed a joint venture partnership to deliver a “next-generation” hydrogen fuel cell system.

The improvements will make the cells more durable and less expensive to build. Assuming development goes smoothly, Honda will use the hydrogen fuel cell system in both personal vehicles and freight pulling trucks, taking advantage of the fleet market’s desperation to lower expensive fuel costs. The Japanese automaker intends to start manufacturing the product later this year, and hopes to sell 60,000 annually by 2030.

The use of hydrogen as a fuel source remains a source of controversy. Although readily available across the universe, its gaseous form rarely occurs naturally, and converting it to gas with current technology often consumes more energy that it produces. This has lead many to criticize automakers who have produced hydrogen fuel cell systems for wasting their time and money. However, given that it promises a near endless source of power, their efforts may pay off in time. Manufacturers have other reasons for searching for alternative power solutions, as it remains unclear if there will ever be enough infrastructure to support the purely electric future that many envision.

The partnership also highlights how technology collaborations between major manufacturers have become commonplace in the wake of the COVID pandemic. Last year, Honda and GM partnered to use the latter’s lithium battery technology in an electric SUV built by the former. Other brands such as Sony and LG Energy Solutions are working more closely than ever with the automotive industry to create more efficient and sustainable products for the market. The joint venture hydrogen fuel cell system is only the latest in a growing series of cooperative projects automakers have shared.

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