The cost port on the entrance fender of the 2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV is, mockingly, what could assist maintain drivers of this fuel-cell automobile away from a state of vary anxiousness.
It alerts plug-in-hybrid-like electrical vary for the commute, with none want for hydrogen—a departure from the modest, hybrid-sized packs which were typical in fuel-cell passenger automobiles up till now.
Altogether, it’s a expertise combo that on one hand has been a very long time coming and alternatively is a noteworthy concession to a collection of current realities for fuel-cell automobiles. Whereas the automobiles themselves have been swimming olympic laps of transformation and refinement, the infrastructure has barely been treading water. Hydrogen was supposed to supply gasoline-like driving vary and fast fills, however a number of hydrogen supply pinches in recent times left even early adopters uneasy about fueling up. And the 50-cent-a-gallon-equivalent hydrogen prices {that a} federally funded research urged a decade in the past had been potential round now? Nowhere in sight.

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV
As of January, hydrogen costs had been working a whopping $33.50 per kg—roughly the vitality equal of a gallon of gasoline. That’s about $144 to fill its 4.3-kg tank with 10,000-psi compressed hydrogen gasoline, set to take you an EPA-rated 241 miles. Everytime you’re residence, plug right into a 240-volt residence charger for a pair hours and with about $4.00 of electrical energy, primarily based on California costs, you’ll get a further 29 miles with out utilizing hydrogen.
Honda received’t reveal how a lot of the battery’s capability is put aside for charging, nevertheless it says that it dedicates a minimum of as a lot because the Readability Gas Cell’s 1.6 kwh towards vitality buffering for the gas cell, which doesn’t ramp up immediately. For now we’ll estimate about 14 kwh devoted to plugging in; however engineers cautioned that can fluctuate.
Understanding what the powertrain’s prefer to stay with must await an extended expertise. However in a quick drive of the CR-V e:FCEV this previous week with just about a full tank of hydrogen and a full cost, I discovered that this new totally electrified model of the favored CR-V drives with a hushed confidence, as if it had been a battery-electric mannequin.

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV
Gas-cell tech overcomes some baggage
Making a convincing hydrogen fuel-cell automobile wasn’t the hurdle right here, although. The earlier Honda Clarity Fuel Cell sedan already offered that thesis. Just like the rival Hyundai Nexo crossover and Toyota Mirai sedan—which I’ve urged could be the best-driving sedan Toyota makes—it confirmed that fuel-cell tech might present spectacular drivability and efficiency.
Gas-cell automobiles have steadily gotten higher over the previous twenty years, and I’ve pushed almost all of them. Hydrogen refueling has develop into faster when and the place it’s accessible; fuel-cell modules have develop into quieter and unobtrusive; packaging retains bettering; and drivability has improved by leaps and bounds.

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV
Why haven’t fuel-cell automobiles been given cost ports prior to now? I’ve been instructed for earlier fuel-cell automobile efforts that including further battery capability defeated the aim of shifting to fuel-cell propulsion, including pointless weight and extra packaging challenges. I’ve additionally been instructed that it disincentivizes the buildout of hydrogen infrastructure.
“The reason being, in an effort to enhance the hydrogen infrastructure you might want to use and eat it—so if you happen to make it chargeable at residence, then these individuals received’t eat the hydrogen,” summed Toyota Mirai chief engineer Yoshikazu Tanaka to Inexperienced Automobile Studies in 2020, explaining why a charge port had been considered for that mannequin however dominated out.

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV
First fuel-cell mannequin to reach since hydrogen moved on
4 years later, in 2024, the whole lot has modified. All automakers nonetheless speaking the hydrogen discuss have seen the sunshine—that passenger automobiles will not be the primary focus of the expertise within the close to future, and that the brighter, near-term utility for fuel-cell tech is past passenger automobiles. Honda is embarking on a number of initiatives for electrical vehicles, monitoring the outcomes of a stationary fuel-cell idea for backup energy at its information middle, and even wanting towards area functions.
Seemingly relieved of this strain to show the tech versus EVs and plug-in hybrids, the e:FCEV will get the cost port. Honda additionally didn’t appear impassioned to make this fuel-cell automobile a singular design or physique model. From some paces away, it’s going to register as maybe a special mannequin yr or trim degree of the ever present household crossover to the overwhelming majority of the car-buying public.

Honda fuel-cell module

Honda fuel-cell module

Honda fuel-cell module
Rolling science experiment? Nope, not right here
Like these different fuel-cell automobiles, this particular CR-V not deserves to be known as a rolling science experiment, as its fuel-cell stacks signify generations of growth over greater than 25 years. Merely put, wafer-like layers host and harness a chemical response between oxygen and hydrogen, producing electrical energy, waste warmth, and a few water vapor.
The look may be plain, however the implementation is top-notch. The times of fuel-cell stacks sounding like a Dustbuster had been left working beneath the seats are lengthy gone. You’ll be able to simply barely register when the fuel-cell stack is working, however you must know what to hear for. You received’t get your ft moist when loading the automobile both; Honda has relocated the drain for the fuel-cell to the within the appropriate rear tire quite than within the tailpipe place.
Amid these conflicting alerts, that is the beginning of the second era of what Honda is terming a “gas cell module”—developed with GM and made in Michigan—as each firms pivot the tech towards these industrial automobiles, building automobiles, agriculture, and stationary energy sources.
Toyota has already introduced that it’s contemplating utilizing hydrogen fuel-cell-based energy to fabricate automobiles. Honda says it isn’t fairly there but, nevertheless it’s already utilizing the tech to again up its U.S. analysis and growth places of work with retired Readability Gas Cell techniques.

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV
Much less hydrogen vary, all of the passenger area
The CR-V e:FCEV’s fuel-cell module makes 92.2 kw—down from the earlier era’s 103 kw as put in within the Readability Gas Cell, associated to efforts to make the unit extra compact. Honda notes that price has been diminished and sturdiness has been gained, and it claims vastly diminished noise and vibration from the unit itself. And with an air-to-air intercooler for the fuel-cell stack, quite than water cooling, the system can now begin up in temps as little as -22 levels F.
The hardest situation in fuel-cell fashions is often the place to retailer the hydrogen tanks, which have to be cylindrical, a form that doesn’t pair nicely with seating, cargo area, or aero-savvy. Whereas the Nexo, Mirai, and former Readability Gas Cell all checked in at nicely over 300 miles of vary however did put the pinch someplace, the e:FCEV appears to have prioritized that packaging over vary.

Honda CR-V e:FCEV
Hydrogen storage stays break up into two cylindrical tanks, however whole storage is 4.3 kg, down from 5.5 kg within the Readability Gas Cell. Numerous core parts of the hydrogen system and powertrain have gone modular, with the EV battery beneath the ground in the midst of the automobile, whereas the 2 tanks lay throughout the width of the automobile beneath and behind the again seat, in order to not influence passenger area in any respect versus the CR-V Hybrid.

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV
The e:FCEV feels packaged just about like every other CR-V from the entrance seat or rear seat. The one exception is that, if you happen to fold down the rear seatbacks there’s a hump throughout the ground to navigate—though a two-position rear cargo shelf in again helps profit from the compromise in day-to-day use. As in different CR-V fashions, you’ll discover sufficient headroom and legroom in again, even if you happen to’re sitting behind a taller driver, whereas seats don’t have quite a lot of facet assist however are gentle and supportive in any other case.

2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV

2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV
On the skin, a collection of entrance and rear design tweaks soften the look considerably, whereas 10-spoke, 18-inch alloy wheels appear to be they’d match proper into the remainder of the CR-V lineup however are distinctive to this variant. There’s a bigger grille opening (look decrease); entrance overhang has been prolonged about 4 inches; and clear taillight lenses and decrease physique garnishes do give it a considerably totally different perspective, however even subsequent to a Hybrid it appeared refined.
As in different CR-V fashions, a honeycomb mesh midline might be probably the most putting facet in regards to the front-seat cabin space. The FCEV’s seats additionally get totally different, bio-based artificial leather-based, plus artificial leather-based for the steering wheel.

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV
e:FCEV is derived from a PHEV Individuals can’t get
The CR-V e:FCEV is front-wheel-driven and produces a peak 174 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque. Honda didn’t have a peak energy determine for the automobile if it’s out of hydrogen however driving on a full cost; engineers confirmed that working the gas cell module is required for peak energy.
Honda defined that in conceiving the e:FCEV it borrowed as a lot as it might probably from the European-spec CR-V Plug-In Hybrid, together with its thermally managed lithium-ion battery pack, its inverter, and its electrical motor. In all, the plug-in fuel-cell model weighs primarily the identical because the plug-in hybrid and about 500 kilos greater than the CR-V Hybrid—possible round 4,300 kilos.
Honda signifies an official 0-62 mph acceleration time of 9.5 seconds for the CR-V PHEV, the place the motor makes the next 181 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. Anticipate 0-60 mph in about 10 seconds right here within the fuel-cell model. The CR-V e:FCEV chirps respectably off the road however with out something pinning you to your seat. My drive solely took me to about 55 mph, and there I seen the powertrain didn’t really feel fairly as perky.

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV
To suit influence zones with the gas cell module’s totally different underhood area, the FCEV will get a brand new entrance bulkhead plus a brand new rear tank body that’s utilized as a structural member. Solely if you arise proper subsequent to it do you discover the marginally longer nostril. Rear roll rigidity has additionally been elevated, with stiffer rear stabilizer bar mounts (stabilizers entrance and rear).
I used to be capable of drive the e:FCEV back-to-back with the U.S.-spec CR-V Hybrid, with dealing with restricted to some L-shaped curves round warehouses and strip malls, and I acquired the impression that the e:FCEV does drive heavier, in addition to a bit stiffer, to regulate the load, with extra harsh bounding motions over giant heaves and railroad tracks. Total, it’s a smooth-riding automobile however not inspiring in any efficiency sense.

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV and 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid
EV-like regen modes, can energy all types of substances
There are just a few key interface variations versus different CR-Vs. The shift lever is changed by push-buttons, and the Drive Mode selector (Regular, Sport, and Econ) has been moved to the appropriate facet of the console, together with the powertrain mode button (Auto, EV, Save, and Cost). EV mode locks in plug-in cost till you employ up that quantity of the battery, whereas Save runs the gas cell almost on a regular basis, utilizing the buffer portion of the battery solely. I shortly discovered that Sport and Save can’t be chosen on the identical time (as a result of the gas cell is required for max energy). 4 ranges of deceleration will also be chosen through zinc-alloy paddles—in the identical manner as Civic and Accord hybrids, and with the strongest regen not fairly a one-pedal mode.

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV
The connector that’s included with the CR-V affords a 110-volt energy outlet that may run home equipment, energy instruments, tenting tools, or an air conditioner, at as much as 1.5 kw. Honda has urged that the CR-V e:FCEV has broader V2X capacity baked in, however that performance isn’t right here but.
There are solely two colours, and the FCEV is simply provided in prime Touring kind with heated entrance seats, a heated steering wheel, wi-fi telephone charging, 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint audio, a ten.3-inch gauge show, and a model of Honda’s 8.9-inch touchscreen system with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. I paired my iPhone in a short time and used CarPlay for the quick driving route. You’ll be able to very simply flip backwards and forwards between that and the dynamic shows explaining the powertrain.

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV
An unique in CR-V garments
When the Readability Gas Cell arrived, Honda emphasised that whereas gross sales of that automobile could be within the hundreds, these next-generation fashions could be within the tens of hundreds.
Now Honda is aiming for two,000 models per yr of those FC techniques, throughout all these functions, together with simply 300 CR-V e:FCEVs yearly at first, with hopes for 600 of them yearly. They’ll be provided solely via a particular lease, and Honda will probably be protecting a number of the hydrogen; it additionally flags that the e:FCEV qualifies for California single-occupant HOV lane use.

2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV
The e:FCEV is successfully an unique automobile masquerading as a CR-V. The few hundred Honda makes per yr will probably be primarily handbuilt in Marysville, Indiana. Honda famous that that is no automated meeting line; it takes 20 days to construct every FCEV.
Honda is finally delivering hydrogen fuel-cell expertise in a refreshing kind—one which is smart not with a hypothetical infrastructure which may arrive (and be dependable, and inexpensive) in a future situation, however with a stable backup for at present’s work-in-progress hydrogen actuality.
Within the close to time period, battery electrical has received, however gas cells have promise over the long run, when all the problems with the infrastructure and hydrogen era have been solved. For that, the CR-V e:FCEV is a really nice-driving bench-warmer.
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