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Honda Announces Production Ready Fuel Cell Car

Jon Quirk

By Jon Quirk
15 November 2007

Honda is preparing to launch the world’s first fuel cell powered car as early as next summer. The Japanese car-maker unveiled the FCX Clarity at this week’s Los Angeles International Auto Show. The four-seater saloon (which resembles a slightly tubbier Toyota Prius) is a production-ready, hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle that produces zero emissions.

Based on Honda’s latest V Flow fuel cell platform, the FCX Clarity is powered by an ultra-compact hydrogen fuel cell stack. In a nutshell, hydrogen combines with atmospheric oxygen in the fuel cell stack and the energy from this reaction is then converted into emissions free electric power to move the vehicle. By also using a compact lithium-ion battery pack and regenerative braking, Honda expects the FCX Clarity to achieve a fuel consumption figure of 65mpg and more than a 250-mile range.

Honda initially plans to lease the FCX Clarity to a select number of clients in Southern California from next summer and gauge reaction. It is aiming to introduce three-year lease terms at a cost of $600 per month (approx £290), including maintenance and collision insurance.

A trial scheme in the UK is yet to be confirmed.

 

 

User Comments

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Rik
17:21:09 18 July 2008

Hydrogen is far from expensive actually!!

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22:18:31 04 July 2008

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05:19:17 26 May 2008

Problem with car companies is {They want these cars on the market ,then they must make them affordable to all with or without the credit to purchase ] then once that is done they need to contact local gas stations to accomadate these cars ,then give tax incentives to the companies that offer the refueling ] to get these vehicles on the market they must be willing to make them affordable to all . these days times are ruf ,and no body is buying anything without a good cause . Hell if these times get any worse they will shut down the whole country ,because of cost of food ,gas,going to work , it is getting bad . Car companies want the sales make them affordable even if they have to finance them till the cars are on the market { take the leap Dealerships sponsor what you preach and you will be awarded . I would love to own this vehicle {credit wise it will never happen} banks will stop the sale unless your credit worthey or rich . And this is definitly not the market . Tracy from Newyork

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Joe L.
15:44:45 21 May 2008

Hydrogen cars are expensive, but it is extremely renewable and worth any price. I hope the automakers would roll out the fuel cell vehicles, and fast. On top of that, whosoever keeps on selling gas guzzlers should be put out of bussiness; and demonopolize big oil's dictations on what we fuel our vehicles at the pump. I, myself, am in favor of renewable fuel, and sign the Declaration of Independence from fossil fuels.

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Mick
11:11:39 13 March 2008

We know how to build zero emitting vehicles (ZEVs) and we know how to generate hydrogen; we perceive difficulties at the moment getting that hydrogen fuel into cars at the "pumps". Hydrogen is tricky to compress, but could be delivered as an alcohol. The problem is that a hydrogen infrastructure would need to compete with a global oil economy, with many standing to lose a great deal of money. Until more oil investors become sufficiently concerned about the environment to divert oil money into developing a hydrogen infrastructure fuel cell cars will not appear in great numbers. It's more of a political and economics issue than technological. You can still make money out of hydrogen...

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