2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV Leaves EVangelists Aghast

Oh, the battery-electric EVangelists are going to have a fit. Someone has just invented a new type of zero local emissions vehicle, and it incorporates both plug-in electric capability and hydrogen fuel cell power. Honda’s new 2025 CR-V e:FCEV is one of a kind and breaks all the rules.

Honda says its new 2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV has earned a 270-mile range rating from the EPA. Our understanding is that the 29 miles of EV range is not included in that figure, so round it up to 300 when fully charged. Although we respect the folks at EPA who create these ratings, they are always high when it comes to battery-electric vehicles in anything but perfect conditions. It will remain to be seen how the new CR-V matches up to its specs.

“Leveraging Honda fuel cell technology expertise continues to play a critical role in our global goal to achieve carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities by 2050,” said Mamadou Diallo, senior vice president of Auto Sales, American Honda Motor Co. “Honda has laid out an electrification strategy leading to 100% zero-emission automobile sales by 2040, including the introduction of both battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles like this new CR-V e:FCEV model.”

The 2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV will be available for customer leasing in California beginning later this year (2024). Those who take one home will find an almost nonexistent public hydrogen network outside of the area. Why any car company would design a vehicle with a worse public infrastructure than the dismal battery-electric public charging fiasco is beyond our understanding. 

Honda is trending away from being its own stand-alone automotive powertrain production company. Like with its battery-electric vehicles, Honda is leaning on GM for help here as well as a company called Fuel Cell System Manufacturing, LLC (FCSM) located in Michigan.

Honda lists the following as important CR-V e:FCEV features:

-Distinctive bold and sophisticated styling
-All-new 2nd-generation Fuel Cell Module
-270 mile zero-emission EPA driving range rating
-Plug-in Level II charging capability designed to provide up to 29 miles of battery electric range (EPA estimated)
-Sporty, modern, spacious and comfortable interior
-10.2-inch digital instrumentation
-9-inch HD touchscreen
-Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto compatibility
-Wireless phone charging (Qi)
-Four selectable drive modes, including -Snow and Sport
-Honda Sensing system

Honda has not offered cost-to-lease information as of yet. When it becomes available, we will add it to this story or create another. 
 

John Goreham is an experienced New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can follow John on Twitter, and connect with him at Linkedin.