Japanese automaker Honda outlined key methods it’s present process to extend the usage of hydrogen gas cell know-how as the corporate appears to develop its hydrogen enterprise and obtain its international aim of zero environmental impression, together with carbon neutrality for all merchandise and company actions by 2050.
Marking the first-time hydrogen gas cells have been produced at scale, mass manufacturing of the brand new Honda gas cell (FC) system has begun at Gas Cell System Manufacturing LLC (FCSM), a three way partnership manufacturing facility with Basic Motors (GM) in Brownstown, Michigan.
“Our new gas cell system is on the core of Honda hydrogen know-how and our technique to develop the vary of functions that use hydrogen to facilitate the decarbonization of society,” mentioned Jay Joseph, vice chairman, sustainability & enterprise improvement, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “This isn’t merely a selection between battery electrical or hydrogen gas cell know-how, however deciding on the suitable power supply, in the suitable place, for the suitable function, to realize carbon neutrality as rapidly and effectively as potential.”
The brand new gas cell system is essential to Honda’s hydrogen enterprise technique. Co-developed by Honda and GM during the last decade, the brand new Honda gas cell system advances efficiency and doubles sturdiness whereas lowering value by one-third in comparison with the earlier era system.
Honda has been conducting analysis and improvement of hydrogen applied sciences and gas cell electrical automobiles (FCEV) for greater than 30 years and has led the business within the deployment of fuel-cell know-how by way of intensive real-world testing and buyer deployments, together with the primary authorities fleet prospects and first-ever retail buyer leasing program for gas cell electrical automobiles.
Triple Motion to Zero ApproachHonda is working towards its international aim of zero environmental impression by 2050 by way of its “Triple Motion to Zero” strategy, together with not solely its merchandise, however the complete product lifecycle together with company actions.
Carbon neutrality for all Honda merchandise and company actions by 2050.Useful resource circulation – Utilizing 100% sustainable supplies to create a round economic system will allow Honda to recycle or reuse each little bit of the supplies from its automobiles, reprocess them again to uncooked supplies and reuse these supplies within the creation of recent merchandise. Briefly, to make new Honda automobiles out of previous Honda automobiles.Use of fresh, renewable power, together with electrification and hydrogen.
Honda Hydrogen Enterprise StrategyIn its initiatives, Honda sees hydrogen as one of many high-potential power carriers to help this route of renewable power and electrification. The “hydrogen circulation cycle,” which begins with renewable power, consists of three phases – “generate,” “retailer/transport” and “use.” To be extra particular, with the usage of water electrolysis know-how, extra electrical energy derived from renewable power sources can used to create “inexperienced hydrogen”, which will be saved indefinitely with no power loss. Using gas cell know-how, this hydrogen can then be transformed again into zero-emission electrical energy for a wide range of functions, together with stationary again up energy to account for fluctuations in energy era on account of seasonality and climate circumstances. Saved hydrogen will also be used to move power to the place it’s wanted by way of land, sea, and pipeline.
Honda will develop the functions of the brand new Honda gas cell system past FCEVs to varied inside and exterior functions, thereby serving to stimulate demand for hydrogen and facilitating the carbon neutrality of society by way of the “use” of hydrogen.
Honda has recognized 4 core domains for the preliminary utilization of its new gas cell system: FCEVs, industrial gas cell automobiles, stationary energy stations and building equipment. Whereas preliminary FCSM manufacturing can be utilized in help of Honda inside initiatives and FCEV gross sales, Honda is exploring exterior gas cell enterprise alternatives with a aim to start exterior deliveries of the gas cell system modules within the close to future. The corporate envisions preliminary gross sales of two,000 models per yr after which increasing gross sales in phases.
FCEV:This yr, Honda will launch an all-new CR-V FCEV. Constructed on the Honda Efficiency Manufacturing Middle in Marysville, Ohio, utilizing home and globally sourced components, it is going to be the one gas cell electrical passenger car made in America.
Business Autos and Development:Within the space of economic automobiles, the GIGA FUEL CELL, a zero-emissions gas cell-powered heavy-duty truck at present being co-developed by Isuzu and Honda was proven for the primary time on the Japan Mobility Present 2023. Along with conducting joint analysis on gas cell heavy-duty vehicles, the 2 firms have begun demonstration testing of a prototype mannequin on public roads in Japan in December 2023, and plan to introduce the manufacturing mannequin to market in 2027 by totally leveraging the know-how, expertise and information gained by way of the joint analysis.
Furthermore, Honda is making ready a proof-of-concept Class 8 hydrogen gas cell truck within the U.S. and is in talks with potential prospects.Honda additionally will take initiative to use its gas cell system to building gear comparable to excavators and wheel loaders, contributing to the conclusion of carbon neutrality for building equipment.
To ensure that extra companies to actively make the most of gas cell programs, Honda is working to develop partnerships that bolster the general hydrogen ecosystem and guarantee a streamlined providing of hydrogen companies. This contains era of hydrogen, workforce improvement, and after-sales upkeep and help.
Stationary Gas Cell Energy Stations:Honda started demonstration testing of a stationary gas cell energy station on its Torrance, Calif. campus in March 2023, marking the corporate’s first step towards future commercialization of zero-emission backup energy era. The gas cell energy station provides clear and quiet emergency backup energy to Honda’s information middle. In December 2023, Honda additionally introduced an analogous joint undertaking in Japan the place Honda will set up a stationary gas cell station to energy a Mitsubishi information middle.
Backup energy programs using hydrogen gas cells supply a promising future for clear, but dependable and high-quality energy era, particularly when working on so-called “inexperienced hydrogen” constituted of renewable sources, with water vapor as the one emission.
Future stationary gas cell (FC) models supposed for commercialization will make the most of the brand new Honda FC system. Within the coming years, Honda will start making use of stationary FC energy station applied sciences now beneath improvement – that includes a next-generation FC system with additional value discount and improved efficiency – to Honda services and information facilities globally.
Institution of Hydrogen EcosystemsTo obtain widespread utilization of gas cell programs, it’s vital to determine hydrogen ecosystems that embrace hydrogen provide. Honda has been supporting the growth of hydrogen station networks in Japan by taking part within the Japan Hydrogen Station Community Joint Firm (Japan H2 Mobility/JHyM) and in North America by supporting hydrogen station companies comparable to FirstElement Gas and others.Honda may also proactively take part in hydrogen era tasks organized by nationwide and native governments that at present make the most of massive volumes of imported hydrogen at ports and different places. Via these initiatives, Honda will work to construct partnerships with firms concerned on this new space.
In Japan, working towards the institution of a hydrogen ecosystem, along with Marubeni Company and Iwatani Company, Honda has begun discussing the prospects for hydrogen provide and the utilization of gas cell industrial automobiles. In Europe, Honda is at present planning for demonstration testing of an power ecosystem that mixes renewable power and hydrogen.
Utilization of Hydrogen Applied sciences in Outer Area Honda is conducting superior analysis and improvement of hydrogen applied sciences whereas envisioning use in outer area, one other potential space the place hydrogen applied sciences comparable to a gas cell system and excessive differential stress water electrolysis applied sciences will be utilized. Along with water and meals, folks want oxygen, in addition to hydrogen for gas and electrical energy for numerous actions supporting life in area.
To allow sustainable area actions, it’s vital to scale back the necessity to resupply these sources from Earth as a lot as potential. One of many options to this problem is to create a “circulative renewable power system,” which mixes a excessive differential stress water electrolysis system that produces oxygen and hydrogen utilizing photo voltaic power to electrolyze water, and a gas cell system that generates electrical energy and water from oxygen and hydrogen.
To create such a system, Honda performed joint analysis and improvement with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Company (JAXA) throughout the 2021 and 2022 fiscal years (interval ended March 31, 2022). Furthermore, in 2022, Honda signed a analysis and improvement contract3 with JAXA concerning the “circulative renewable power system” that’s designed to produce electrical energy to take care of the performance of the residing area and numerous programs of lunar rovers.
Based mostly on this contract, Honda can be commissioned by JAXA to first conduct idea research, then to develop a “breadboard model4,” an early-stage prototype, by the tip of the 2024 fiscal yr (ending March 31).
Jan 29, 2024