Honda has announced a shutdown of its fuel-cell powertrain factory in Michigan, USA that it launched nine years ago within the framework of an agreement with General Motors. Although the company claims to stay committed to fuel cell transports, it looks like the Honda CR-V e:FCEV (see video) may soon drop out of production for good.
No reasons have been quoted for the shutdown. One of the prevailing theories holds that it gradually became hard for GM to allocate resources for research, so the company decided to focus on its immediate issues first. On the other hand, Honda has accumulated enough experience and know-how to continue hydrogen car R&D at home in Japan. Whatever the true reason may be, it’s official that all production of fuel cell powertrains in Michigan will stop before the end of the year.
Last fall, GM announced wrapping up investment in another research project, Hydratec. The company complained about hydrogen gas stations and service stations being too few and far between, citing infrastructural hurdles as the main obstacle on the way to hydrogen vehicle adoption. It would seem possible that it decided to sever ties with Honda at about the same time.
