LA 2007: 2009 Honda FCX Clarity Live reveal
Filed under: Hydrogen, Honda, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, LA Auto Show, Green Daily
Click the FCX Clarity for a high-res gallery
At the Los Angeles Auto Show this morning, Honda got to step three of a process that began at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show when they first introduced the non-driveable FCX concept. A few months later they introduced a running version of that concept and almost exactly a year ago they started letting media, including AutoblogGreen, drive those cars at the Laguna Seca raceway in Monterey. At the time of the original introduction in Tokyo they stated their intention to begin low-volume production in mid-2008. They repeated that intention last year and today they publicly showed the production intent version of the car now known as the FCX Clarity.
The layout of the car remains largely the same as the concept with Honda's unique vertical flow fuel cell in the center console of the four door sedan body. Like the concept, Honda has chosen to stay with a 5,000 psi fuel storage system for the compressed hydrogen gas. Given the space age cab-forward style of the original concept one might have expected a significant change in styling for the production car. You would be mostly wrong. Aside from the nose being stretched a few inches in order to provide some crush space, the Clarity looks almost identical to the concept.
There's more after the break.
[Source: Honda]
Mechanically, (or should that be electrically) the production model sticks to the concept. A lithium ion battery provides storage for recaptured kinetic energy from the regenerative braking and returns it when needed for an extra power boost. The fuel cell powertrain is now 400 lbs lighter than the one in the first generation FCX and less than half the size of the old one. The stack can easily start at temperatures as low as -22F and it provides a 270-mile range and 68 mpg equivalent fuel economy. The interior surfaces are made from Honda's latest plant-derived biofabric.
Starting next summer Honda will begin series production of the FCX and will start offering them to retail customers beginning in southern California areas were hydrogen fueling stations already exist. Customers will be able to get a three-year lease on an FCX Clarity for $600 a month, an amount that includes all maintenance and collision insurance. The Clarity will be fully certified to meet all emissions and safety standards and won't require any special waivers from the EPA or anyone else. Honda isn't talking volumes yet but expect low hundreds in the first few years at best. On Friday we'll be getting our first shot at driving the new FCX Clarity and we'll have a more thorough run down of the technical details shortly.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-14-2007 @ 6:04PM
roz said...
Seems awesome.
1) Hope they offer a home filling station.
2) State of California should have H2 filling locations in strategic points so that owners can drive the state with little trouble.
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11-14-2007 @ 7:00PM
Bob Seeley said...
Dang nice looking vehicle imo. Just exactly what does "equivalent fuel economy" mean here? Anybody know which definition is applicable in this case?
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11-14-2007 @ 9:03PM
Joseph said...
"A lithium ion battery provides storage"
Honda is gonna do something big with their next hybrids coming out in 2009. I just know it.
It's good to see Honda producing these. They'll probably sell/lease a hundered year or something.
68mpg equivilant is vastly improved over previous FCVs. Still, it falls short of electric cars! Also, it's ironic that the difference of range between the Roadster (EPA estimated 245 miles) and the FCX (270, according to Honda) is just 25 miles!
EVs and FCVs will fight for the car of the future. We'll all see.
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11-14-2007 @ 9:04PM
Joseph said...
Double Post!
Here's some stuff from the Honda website:
"the fuel cell technology was developed by Honda for the FCX Clarity, and was not retrofitted to an existing model"
So the FCX isn't based on a Civic or Accord. (I kind of thought so from the photo)
" The FCX Clarity has a driving range of approximately 270 miles* "
Note the asterik next to miles. The asterik says:
" *Honda in-house data calculated using previously approved EPA methodology. "
I'm assuming this means the range value they give is based on 2007, not 2008, testing. As I'm sure many of you know, 2008 testing is more realistic. So, I'm assuming that range is closer to 240 miles, rather than 270. Not that big of a deal.
Now for the good stuff: It has good range, decent mpg (still not as good as an EV) it looks cool, it's futuristic, it's high tech, it's green, it's safe, it's a giant step-forward. It seems to be a good size (civic sized?)
Definitely Kewl.
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11-15-2007 @ 8:28AM
mr.ed said...
"Up to" x miles will shrink substantially through use of A/C, defrosters, lights, speed, etc. Expect no more than half in real driving.
Don't expect to see these north of the line if minimum starting temp is -22F. This whole concept has more years of development before it's realistic. And then there's the fueling infrastructure, and the billions in investment for it.
I do like the design, which is not as conservative as Honda usually produces, though the Civic was a pretty good sized leap forward.
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11-16-2007 @ 10:30AM
MarkA said...
I drove this car yesterday. It drives like a dream. Great acceleration, braking, handling, and turning radius. Seats are really comfortable. Best drive I've had a long time.
This car would be flying out of dealer lots no matter what power train was there.
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11-16-2007 @ 5:21PM
C J said...
The Clarity is a spectacular Vehicle. I drove it yesterday, and It's very quiet, comfortable, maneuvers very well, accelerates like the EV-1 (Which I drove for 7 years) and is larger than the Accord. A true 5 passenger car, with all the luxury car treats.
It also reduces CO2 60+% over a gasoline equivalent car.(Wells to wheels) The 100Kw fuel cell stack could fit in a 20" rollaboard carry-on suitcase. Honda has REALLY done great work here.
The trunk is very large.
As a Firm believer of the EV-1, this has really been an eye opener bringing true 'Clarity' in Hydrogen as a Energy carrier for automotive use.
The pure electric drive does so much for efficiency that Battery EV's, FCV's and plug-in Hybrids will easily all have a place in the market.
Honda has accomplished some incredible engineering advances here.
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11-17-2007 @ 12:27AM
Chris M said...
You missed the most obvious change from prototype to Clarity - the headlights.
I was wondering what type of lease deal Honda was going to do for the FCX Clarity. It will obviously be a limited number near H2 refueling facilities, but would they do like GM with free lease free fuel for 3 months? Would it be "Celebrity only" like BMW is doing with the Hydrogen 7? The latest rumour was $600 per month, which is well below the market lease for a vehicle this expensive.
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11-23-2007 @ 6:59AM
Dries said...
Why only California!? I'm living in Europe and don't mind to drive one of those even if I can only go as much as 200KM and have to return to my HES IV to refill it. I live in Belgium with this car I can drive anywhere I need!
Please!Please!Please I want to lease one
BTW does the HES IV also work with LPG because this is a fuel already present in a lot of gas stations ... thinking ahead :)
Reply
3-21-2008 @ 10:16PM
Rose said...
Chris M. Seems YOU missed the most obvious changes from prototype to Clarity. Did you read anything about this car first? At 9:35pm on 16th you took shots at Honda, hydrogen, fuel cells and their home fueler. http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/11/15/la-2007-honda-shows-4th-generation-home-energy-station
Now, a day later you ask all these questions, already answered in the article and announced by HOnda. Clearly you did not read anything before spewing your bile. A simple search found this: http://www.hondanews.com/categories/865/releases/4345
Try reading next time.
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3-22-2008 @ 2:34AM
Chris M said...
Rose, Try checking the posting dates first. That old post was November 17, 2007. Of course more info has come out since then, including more details of their lease plan. I'm not clairvoyant, I've never been able to read future posts!
In case you missed it, the Honda Home Energy Station you referenced is not actually part of the FCX Clarity. The changes I was referring to was between the FCX prototype that was shown early in 2007 and the FCX Clarity. Please don't confuse the prototype or Clarity with an earlier Honda FCX model, which looked very different and did not perform nearly as well. I'll give Honda credit, the Clarity is much better looking and has better acceleration than the 2005 FCX model!
I also give Honda credit for a more realistic lease than the GM "Project Driveway" or the BMW "Hydrogen 7". Honda is charging $600 a month for a 3 year lease, insurance included, but the customer must pay for the H2 fuel. That is far below the lease rate for a car this costly, but it represents the price they hope to achieve someday, years from now.
The GM Project Driveway will provide a few lucky people a free car and free fuel for 3 months. The free BMW "Hydrogen 7" leases are only for select high profile celebrities and influential politicians, not ordinary folks. Both are promotional gimmicks, not realistic tests of consumer acceptance.
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