Honda and Isuzu unveil a hydrogen truck set to launch in 2027

During the Japan Mobility Show 2023 celebration, several vehicles will be presented that use alternative fuels to improve their performance and make them more sustainable. From electric cars and other drivetrains that bypass the combustion engine, to personal mobility vehicles. But also heavy-duty vehicles and road transport. The hydrogen fuel cell truck that Honda and Isuzu will present belongs to this last segment.

This truck is called the Giga Fuel Cell and will be presented to offer an efficient solution for road transport. The unit being unveiled at the Japanese event is driven by four polymer fuel cells, each delivering a power output of 103 kW, that is, 140 CV.

These fuel cells were developed by Honda and power an electric motor delivering 320 kW, equivalent to 435 CV. This motor can move the vehicle with ease, which is 12 metres long and weighs 25 tonnes.

Hydrogen is stored in four tanks, with a capacity of 56 kg of hydrogen, kept at a pressure of 700 bar. With this amount of fuel, the Giga Fuel Cell will be able to travel freely for around 800 kilometres.

Another capability of this fuel-cell truck is that it can supply electricity to external devices. This turns it into a mobile battery capable of delivering up to 530 kWh in total.

As for the project’s feasibility, the two companies want to start road testing as soon as possible, so they have all the data on its operation before the end of the fiscal year, which in Japan ends on 31 March 2024. The planned launch date for the vehicle is 2027, once all tests have been completed and its move to production has been validated.