The biggest advantage of a hydrogen fuel cell car is how quickly it takes to refill the tank. While battery technologies continuously improve, fully recharging an EV takes a lot of time. For example, the Hyundai Ioniq 6, which topped our list of fastest-charging EVs, takes 25 minutes to get a full battery.
On the other hand, you can refill the Toyota Mirai, which has a 5.6 kg capacity and a 402-mile range, in just five minutes. Since the CR-V e:FCEV only has a 4.3 kg hydrogen tank, fueling the SUV should take even less time. Even if the Ioniq 6 gets 868 miles per hour of charging, you can theoretically get 3,240 miles per hour of refueling with the plug-in fuel cell CR-V, thus making it more convenient (if a hydrogen station is near you).
Furthermore, the high energy density of hydrogen means it’s more fuel-efficient than hybrids. The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid FWD gets a combined EPA rating of 40 MPG, while the AWD version gets 37. On the other hand, the e:FCEV gets a combined rating of 57 MPGe, making it almost 50% more efficient. TechCrunch also reported that Honda will subsidize the hydrogen fuel for the CR-V e:FCEV, making it a more attractive option for those in the market for a fuel-cell car.
