German supplier Vitesco Technologies has secured a deal to supply its EMR3 axle drive for another Honda model, the new CR-V e:FCEV. This marks the first integration of Vitesco’s drive system into an electric car featuring a hydrogen fuel cell.
The EMR3 axle drive will be used in the CR-V e:FCEV without significant modifications, a testament to its adaptability. Additionally, Honda will incorporate a special bypass valve from Vitesco in the vehicle, which controls airflow to and from the fuel cell stack.
While this is the first use of the EMR3 in a fuel cell vehicle, it has been previously deployed in Honda’s e:Ny1 electric SUV, albeit in a different power variant. In the CR-V e:FCEV, the EMR3 is expected to deliver 128 kW and 310 Nm of torque, slightly less than the 150 kW version used in the e:Ny1.
Development of the EMR3 version for the CR-V e:FCEV involved collaboration among experts from Europe, China, and Japan. The vehicle is anticipated to have a range of over 600 kilometers with a full hydrogen tank, supplemented by an additional 60 kilometers of electric range from its 17.7 kWh battery.
Production of the EMR3 has already commenced at Vitesco Technologies’ Tianjin factory in China. Despite the EMR3’s deployment, Vitesco has introduced the EMR4 in 2021, covering a power range from 80 to 230 kW and available in various configurations to meet customer requirements.
Gunter Mühlberg, Head of Product Management High-Voltage Drives at Vitesco Technologies, commented on the development, stating, “Hydrogen fuel cell systems offer an attractive option for stress-free, long-distance sustainable mobility. Our axle drive systems work smoothly and without noteworthy changes in an electric car with a fuel cell system. This is another future proof for our successful drive technology.”
