Honda's Next FCX Vs. The Toyota Mirai: Your Fuel Cell Face-Off

On the same day that Toyota announced plans for a hydrogen fueling infastructure on the Northeast, Honda showed off their next-generation fuel cell vehicle, re-affirming that Japan is “all-in” on hydrogen vehicles.

Japan’s biggest auto maker officially announced the moniker “Mirai” for its fuel-cell vehicle, as well as vague plans for an American introduction stating

“Toyota is collaborating with Air Liquide to develop and supply a phased network of 12 state-of-the-art hydrogen stations targeted for New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. The states and locations have been strategically selected in the greater New York and Boston areas to provide the backbone of a hydrogen highway for the Northeast corridor. Specific details of the collaboration will be revealed in the coming months.”

Honda also announced a concept of their next-generation FCX, which has a range of 300 miles and an expected re-fueling time of 3-5 minutes. While power has increased by 60 percent and the size of the fuel cell stack has shrunk by 30 percent, the big news is that the technology now allows for 5 passenger seating, whereas the previous FCX had Chevrolet Volt-like seating for four bisected by a large center tunnel.

While Nissan remains committed to EV technology, Honda and Toyota have firmly planted themselves in the hydrogen camp. Backed by massive subsidies and infrastructure projects from the Japanese government, the two auto makers have pivoted away from EVs and towards hydrogen fuel cells as the alternative powertrain of the future. The two big auto makers are likely betting on the generous government investment, the ability to scale hydrogen fuel cells to different bodystyles and the advances in hydrogen production (backed by cheap natural gas) to help spur adoption of FCVs. Of course, the market will decide the victor in the end.