2018 Honda Plug-In Hybrid To Offer 40-Mile Range, Use Fuel-Cell Vehicle's Platform

Honda FCV hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, Honda Meeting, Oct 2015

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Later this week, Honda will unveil the production version of its hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show.

And roughly two years after that car goes on sale, Honda will also launch a dedicated plug-in hybrid car--which it has now confirmed will use underpinnings similar to those of the fuel-cell vehicle.

The company committed at the Detroit Auto Show this past January to introduce both a new plug-in hybrid and a new battery-electric vehicle, but hasn't said anything about those two models in the meantime.

DON'T MISS: Honda's Tokyo Fuel-Cell Vehicle May Be Its Electric Car And Plug-In Hybrid Too

That led to an interesting hypothesis by Autoblog Green: that all three models will in fact be variants of the same car.

Now, after driving the fuel-cell vehicle and a plug-in hybrid test mule at Honda's test track in Utsunomiya, Japan, Honda has confirmed that the two cars will use similar underpinnings.

The fuel-cell vehicle (its full model name will be revealed later this week) is expected to go on sale in Japan next spring, followed by the U.S.

Honda Accord as development prototype of next-generation plug-in hybrid, Honda Meeting, Oct 2015

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Honda is estimating a range of 700 kilometers (434 miles) on the optimistic Japanese testing cycle, which could still work out to over 300 miles on the U.S. EPA testing cycle.

As Honda previously stated, the car's fuel-cell stack is small enough to fit under the hood.

There's a lithium-ion battery pack under the floor, and hydrogen tanks located by the rear passengers' feet, and under the rear seats.

ALSO SEE: Honda FCV Sedan Teased Ahead Of 2015 Tokyo Motor Show

But despite decidedly different packaging requirements, Honda will reportedly use the same platform for its upcoming plug-in hybrid.

This will help Honda realize cost savings across the two models and--potentially--its planned all-electric car too.

Engineers are reportedly aiming for a three-fold increase in electric range over the discontinued Accord Plug-In Hybrid, which had an EPA-rated electric range of 13 miles.

That means a range of around 40 miles for the new plug-in hybrid.

Another goal is to allow electric-only operation at higher speeds. The Accord Plug-In Hybrid was limited to 80 mph in electric-only mode.

The only things that will carry over from the old Accord Plug-In Hybrid powertrain will be the two-motor configuration and clutch.

MORE: Honda To Offer New Electric Car, Plug-In Hybrid Model By 2018

Honda would not discuss the previously-announced electric car, but if it shares a platform with the fuel-cell vehicle and plug-in hybrid, that could help lower the cost of the model still further.

This would perhaps encourage Honda to sell the new model in greater numbers than the old Fit EV, a "compliance car" built in just enough volume to satisfy California's zero-emission vehicle mandate.

"We would like to leverage previous experience with the Fit EV," Honda president Takahiro Hachigo said in regards to Honda's future U.S. electric-car strategy.

Meanwhile, Honda is also developing a new 10-speed automatic transmission for greater fuel efficiency.

It could arrive in the U.S. next year, although Honda isn't saying anything officially either way.

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Source: 2018 Honda Plug-In Hybrid To Offer 40-Mile Range, Use Fuel-Cell Vehicle's Platform