Honda Motor this week unveiled its latest Class 8 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck Concept at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Las Vegas, as part of a new marketing programme ahead of planned production of new products powered by its latest fuel cell systems.

The Japanese automaker said it is looking to establish new business partnerships to expand into the global hydrogen fuel cell business, as it moves towards its target of achieving carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities by 2050.

American Honda Motor Company Inc’s assistant vice president for sustainability & business development, Ryan Harty, released a statement at the show saying “commercial vehicles, including Class 8 trucks - where fuel cells offer the best zero-emission replacement for existing diesel applications, are a key part of Honda’s broad hydrogen business strategy. Honda is actively seeking business collaborations and customers to help bring these hydrogen fuel cell solutions to market here in North America”.

Honda said its latest hydrogen-powered heavy truck concept is powered by three individual newly-developed fuel cell systems, which the company said are already in mass production at its Fuel Cell System Manufacturing LLC (FCSM) joint venture with US automaker General Motors in Brownstown, Michigan.

The latest fuel cell system is the result of ten years of cumulative joint research and development (R&D) with its US partner and is described as key to Honda’s entire hydrogen business strategy. Honda said it offers improved performance and double the durability compared with the previous generation system, while costs have been reduced by two-thirds.

Honda expects its fuel cell systems will have four main end-user markets, including passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, construction machinery and stationary power generators.