Good Info on the Hydrogen FCX at H2O Daily

Honda brings the best hope for the future by introducing the World's First Hydrogen powered Fuel Cell car, the FCX Clarity. Honda says that it plans to produce a total of about 200 Clarity models during the next three years. It projects that it will cost close to $1 million to manufacture each car.

Built on the all-new Honda V-Flow fuel cell platform and powered by a highly compact, powerful, and efficient new Honda V Flow fuel cell stack, the FCX Clarity marks the significant progress Honda continues to make in advancing the real-world performance and appeal of the hydrogen fuel cell car.

This hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle is propelled by an electric motor that runs on electricity generated in the fuel cell. The vehicle's only emission is water, and its fuel efficiency is three times that of a modern gasoline-powered vehicle. The electric motor generates 127 horsepower and it can produce more electricity than needed to power all the gadgetry found in the vehicle.

This new hydrogen car has significant improvements over Honda's previous generation FCX. The powertrain on this next-generation FCX Clarity are listed here:

• Is over 397 pounds lighter
• Has 120% better power-to-weight ratio
• Is 20% more fuel efficient
• Has a powertrain that is 45% more compact and 10% more energy-efficient

This new model has a lower floor and sleeker overall design, integrating the more compact stack with a smaller powertrain. Its thin A-pillars allow better visibility. A flat-bottom underbody reduces aerodynamic drag and increases efficiency.

The FCX Clarity offers the amenities of a luxury sedan including limousine-like cabin volume, a new lighter lithium ion battery pack, electric steering, a climate control system within the seats to minimize energy use, Honda bio-fabric upholstery, rear camera, floating/layered instrument panel, XM satellite radio, thermo-electrically heated and cooled seats, electronic stability control, adaptive cruise control and a navigation system.

Source;
http://www.h2daily.com/index.php/20080921714/Latest/Hydrogen-powered-Fuel-Cell-Car-Introduced-by-Honda.html

First U.S.-spec Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicles roll off production line

Honda today announced its hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the FCX Clarity, started production at the automaker's dedicated fuel cell vehicle factory in Japan. The first five four-seater sedans will be delivered to American VIPs in Southern California in July, with Honda planning on releasing 200 examples Stateside and in Japan over three years. The FCX is the first fuel cell-powered car to be approved for lease in the U.S.

The five California customers include film producer Ron Yerxa, actress and author Jamie Lee Curtis, her film-making husband Christopher Guest, actress Laura Harris and first-gen FCX owner Jon Spallino. The region has three Honda dealers equipped to service the vehicle and three hydrogen filling stations. Honda will study the drivers' driving patterns and the vehicle's performance to learn and improve on the technology in future versions of the car.

The Clarity promises to deliver a 280-mile range and an equivalent gasoline fuel economy of about 74mpg thanks to its lithium ion battery pack that drives an electric motor. Electricity for the battery pack is generated by the fuel cell, with the only by-product being water. Compared to the first-generation car, which was available in Japan only, the new FCX represents a 30 percent increase in range and a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy thanks to a battery pack that is 40 percent smaller and half as heavy.

The FCX's motor is rated at 134 horsepower and 189 lb-ft of torque available instantenously. Customers who wish to lease the FCX will need to meet Honda's requirements (proximity to filling stations and driving habits chief among them) and sign up for a three-year lease at $600 per month.

Source;
http://www.leftlanenews.com/first-us-spec-honda-fcx-clarity-fuel-cell-vehicles-roll-off-production-lines.html

Update on Honda's New Hybrid

Well, looks like the new 'Global Hybrid' (one name around the world) that Honda is developing is going to have a sharp resemblance to the FCX Clarity Hydrogen car above. The car is said to cost less than the current Civic Hybrid and will use an engine based on the Civic's, but smaller and lighter. Honda is going to opt for the Nickel Metal Hydride Battery over the Lithium-Ion due to the proven track record of the Nickel and the high cost of the lithium-ion; however, According to Fukui, the new model is being engineered to allow for a running change to lithium when the batteries do meet the company's specifications.

2009 Honda FIT to debut at New York International Auto Show

Looks like the new Honda FIT will be making an appearance at this years New York International Auto Show, alongside that of the 2009 Honda Pilot Prototype and the Honda FCX Clarity.

Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda: ”The all-new Honda Fit will reconfirm that small can in fact be big.”

'2009 Honda FCX Clarity' Revealed

Well, here's the production version of the FCX the hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered car, this will go on sale mid 2008, initially limited to Southern Californians where hydrogen filling stations are available. Apparently it is only going to be leased for 3 yrs for $600US/mth. Honda also is developing a home fueling station that uses a home's existing natural gas supply to produce hydrogen. In a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, hydrogen combines with oxygen in the vehicle's fuel-cell stack, and energy from the reaction is converted into electricity to power the vehicle. The vehicle's only emission is water.