Honda facility in Ohio produces new vehicle
COLUMBUS — If you spend any time in Ohio, you will quickly find out that it’s always been a hot spot for innovation.
Honda celebrated the production of the new 2025 Honda CR-V FCEV (fuel cell electric vehicle).
Engineers say creating this vehicle is an extremely complex process, and it’s the only type that’s being made in America.
It’s being created inside the Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio.
The new product is the first plug-in hybrid hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle.
“We wanted to combine both the battery technology, the EV technology so we could have some plug in capability and range for a short trip around town as well as the hydrogen that allows for extended travel,” said Engineering and Project Leader Joe Mazzocchi.
The combined range for the vehicle is 270 miles and the EV range is about 29 miles.
“One of the big benefits is the filling for hydrogen. Again, we’re talking 3 to 5 minutes. You can completely fill the car and be on your way, as compared to the typical EV vehicles now that do have an extended time where you have to recharge that battery,” Mazzocchi said.
Honda had a goal to make battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles represent 100% of its new vehicle sales by 2040.
Starting out, this new vehicle will only be available for lease in California because of the existing hydrogen infrastructure. But they are made in Ohio.
“PMC is actually the perfect plant for this. We’re infusing our craftsmanship, our knowledge of how to build high-tech vehicles into a low volume production vehicle that we an offer to our customers,” Mazzocchi said.
The PMC isn’t the only place where Honda is showcasing bigger goals for sustainability.
The company is establishing its Honda EV Hub in Ohio where various efforts for production are ongoing.
Construction of the $3.5B elective vehicle battery plant near Jeffersonville, Ohio is underway.
The joint venture with LG Energy Solution is expected to be finished by the end of this year, bringing 2,000 jobs to the area.
At PMC, about 100 employees work at their own pace and use precise skills to create the new vehicle line.
“One of the big benefits of this vehicle is that it is emissions free. So moving towards that direction for a carbon neutral society, this is an excellent option and we’re really proud to be able to offer this, starting to be a low-volume product, but as we move into the future to expand that capability,” Mazzocchi said.
It’s estimated the cost for one of these is going to be around the same price as other CR-Vs.
This new hydrogen and electric hybrid isn’t the only unique vehicle to come out of Honda’s center in Marysville.
It was also the production home of the Acura NSX supercar several years ago.
