Honda going lunar with fuel cell technology
Honda has taken several initiatives to fulfil its 2030 Vision, including expanding the range of human ability and a new challenge in the field of outer space.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today (30th September) has introduced new initiatives leveraging its core technologies, including fuel cells.
Honda is conducting joint research with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) to build the circulative renewable energy system on the lunar surface by leveraging fuel cell technologies and its high differential pressure water electrolysis technology.
Honda will combine its fuel cell technologies and water electrolysis technologies, and by using power from renewable energy sources, the system would decompose water and stores hydrogen and oxygen. NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (Sofia) confirmed, for the first time, water on the sunlit surface of the moon. The discovery indicates that water may be distributed across the lunar surface and not limited to cold, shadowed places.
Honda technology will use hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity on the moon, where the oxygen also can be used by astronauts on the lunar surface, and the hydrogen could also be used as fuel for rockets. By building such a circulative renewable energy system, Honda will strive to contribute to a range of human activities on the lunar surface.
Honda will also pursue other initiatives:
- eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft to make mobility in the skies more accessible for people.
- Honda Avatar Robot to make virtual mobility possible
- Taking on challenges in the field of space technology which include fuel cell technology applications on the moon and small reusable rockets, which will apply Honda’s core technologies