Honda strives to achieve carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities in which it is involved by 2050. Aiming for “zero environmental impact” not only of its products, but also of the entire product life cycle, including its corporate activities , Honda focuses on the following areas as the “three pillars” of its initiatives: “carbon neutrality”, “clean energy” and “resource recycling”. In its initiatives, Honda considers hydrogen as one of the high-potential energy carriers, along with electricity.

The "hydrogen cycle", which starts with renewable energy sources, consists of three phases - "creation", "storage/transport" and "use". In particular, using water electrolysis technology, electricity from renewable sources can be converted into “green hydrogen”, making it less prone to fluctuations in electricity production due to seasonality and weather conditions, while making it possible to transport the energy where it is needed in the form of “green hydrogen” through appropriate methods, such as transport by land, sea and pipelines.

Honda will expand the applications of its fuel cell system, which is the core of the brand's hydrogen technology, not only in FCEV models but also in various indoor and outdoor applications, stimulating the demand for hydrogen and facilitating the transition to carbon neutrality of society through the "use" of hydrogen.

Honda was one of the first companies to focus on the potential of hydrogen to realize a carbon-free society and has been engaged in the research and development of hydrogen technologies and FCEV models for over 30 years. Since 2013, Honda has been working with GM to jointly develop the next-generation fuel cell system.

To create such a system, Honda conducted a joint research & development program with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) during fiscal years 2021 and 2022 (period ending March 31, 2022). In addition, in 2022, Honda signed a research and development contract with JAXA regarding the “circular renewable energy system” designed to provide electricity to maintain the functionality of the lunar vehicle's living space and various systems. Under this contract, JAXA will commission Honda to first conduct concept studies and then develop a “breadboard model,” an early-stage prototype, by the end of fiscal year 2024 (which ends March 31, 2024).