Hydrogen Revolution: Honda CR-V E:Fcev Makes Historic Pikes Peak Hill Climb Attempt

Honda’s taking a hydrogen-powered CR-V up Pikes Peak. That’s right, the Japanese automaker is sending its fuel cell vehicle up the legendary 12.42-mile mountain course this June, marking the first time anyone’s been crazy enough to race hydrogen at the “Race to the Clouds.” It’s a bold move, even for Honda.

Honda’s sending a hydrogen CR-V up Pikes Peak – a first for the legendary mountain race.

The CR-V e:FCEV isn’t exactly a fire-breathing monster. With 174 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque from its single motor, it’s not going to set any speed records. But that’s not really the point. Honda’s been messing around with zero-emissions racing at Pikes Peak since 1994, back when electric cars were basically golf carts with delusions of grandeur.

They’ve won EV classes before with modified Civics and Fits, but this hydrogen attempt? That’s new territory. The driver they’ve chosen is Dai Yoshihara, who’s already conquered Pikes Peak with wins in both the EV and Unlimited classes.

The modifications are pretty minimal, which makes this even more interesting. Honda dropped the suspension an inch, slapped on some aggressive brake pads, and bolted in a safety cage. They’re running 18-inch wheels wrapped in 265/45R18 rubber. The wheels themselves are Yokohama Advan units, chosen specifically for their durability and grip on the mountain’s varied surfaces.

Oh, and they ripped out some interior panels to save weight. That’s about it. This is basically the same CR-V e:FCEV that California residents can lease right now, except with a racing seat and better stopping power.

Under the hood – or floor, rather – sits Honda’s second-generation fuel cell system paired with a 17.7 kWh battery pack and two hydrogen tanks. The whole setup delivers 270 miles of range on hydrogen, plus another 29 miles on battery alone. Unlike geothermal energy which boasts a 96% capacity factor, hydrogen vehicles still face reliability challenges in extreme conditions like Pikes Peak.

You can even plug it in, which is handy when hydrogen stations are about as common as unicorns.

The Exhibition Class entry makes sense. Honda’s not trying to beat anyone up the mountain. They’re making a statement: hydrogen works, it’s here, and it can handle one of motorsport’s most demanding challenges.

Whether anyone cares is another question entirely, but Honda’s betting big that hydrogen has a future beyond forklifts and buses. June 22nd will tell us if they’re right or just burning money faster than hydrogen burns oxygen.