This week, Japanese automaker Honda gave the public a glimpse at a Class 8 concept truck powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
Honda debuted the Class 8 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck Concept at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, this week.
The company says that the concept truck is powered by three new Honda hydrogen fuel cell (FC) systems.
See the specifications for Honda’s concept truck below.
| Total length/width/height | 8,000 mm / 2,400 mm / 4,000mm |
| GCW | 37,273kg (Tractor Weight Target : 12,918kg, Load Weight Target : 24,355kg ) |
| Top Speed | 70 mph (Estimated) |
| Driving range | 400 miles at GCW (Estimated) |
| Fuel Cell System Output | 240kW combined (80kW x 3 FC systems) |
| Hydrogen Tank | High pressure 700bar Hydrogen Tank 82kg-H2 |
| Vehicle Battery | 120kWh High Voltage Battery |
“Commercial vehicles, including Class 8 trucks, where fuel cells offer the best zero-emission replacement for existing diesel applications, are a key part of Honda’s broad hydrogen business strategy,” said Ryan Harty, assistant vice president, sustainability & business development, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Honda is actively seeking business collaborations and customers to help bring these hydrogen fuel cell solutions to market here in North America.”
The Honda FC systems are currently in mass production at a joint venture production facility with General Motors (GM) in Brownstown, Michigan. Honda says that fuel cell systems could be used for other applications for the North American market in the future, including fuel cell electric vehicles, stationary power stations and construction machinery.
The trucking industry and truck makers are under increasing pressure to make the transition away from diesel-powered trucks in order to meet stringent emissions standards in the years ahead.