Honda Takes the Fight to Toyota, Unveils New Hydrogen Direction

Toyota has long been the driving force of the hydrogen economy in the transport sector, but Honda is hot on its heels as it announces big moves in the hydrogen sector.

With the aid of General Motors, these two companies are designing a hydrogen engine with 174 horsepower that can be used in cars, trucks, and lorries.

As with all OEMs working in this sphere, Honda is focusing on making its engines smaller and lighter.

Not just compared to other hydrogen engines in the field, but compared to electric car engines, the sector is tipped as a direct competitor to hydrogen.

Toyota vs. Honda: A Battle of the Ages or a Combined Effort?

Honda and Toyota have historically been discussed under the same breath, and while Toyota has dominated hydrogen headlines, Honda will be hoping to steal some of this limelight.

But whether this means direct competition or a combined effort for innovation, the hydrogen sector will be the ultimate winner as the two stalwart car manufacturers develop these types of engines.

The real war isn’t between competing hydrogen vehicles but between VW, BMW, and Tesla, which keep innovating their respective EV fleets.

If you recall 2015, Toyota announced it would provide royalty-free licenses for its fuel cell vehicle (FCV) patents until the end of 2020, indicating the manufacturer’s commitment to growing the hydrogen economy.

Honda’s announcement has been welcomed in the world of hydrogen vehicles after Toyota saw a plummet in sales.

While we are very much at the beginning of the hype cycle, confidence can be taken from the rise of EVs and the pace of innovation in the automotive sector.