The Honda FCX Clarity: A confident car for an uncertain future
Honda’s decision to produce the FCX Clarity is profoundly forward-thinking. While many automakers consider it sufficient to conduct pilot programs using existing platforms, Honda has created their own purpose-built hydrogen fuel cell vehicle from the ground up, a risky venture that may or may not pay off for the Japanese carmaker.
Also notable is Honda’s research into fueling options. Because of the daunting challenge of creating a hydrogen distribution infrastructure, Honda is working on a number of ways to find a solution to this emerging technology’s biggest challenge. Most notable are their ongoing feasibility tests on solar-powered hydrogen refueling stations and their experimental Home Energy Station. The former is based on a water-electrolyzing module and requires 710 square feet of panels for a 5-minute refuel, while the latter intends to convert a home’s natural gas into hydrogen fuel, while enabling power to be routed back to the home in the form of electricity and/or heat. Other potential energy sources include wind, hydro-electric, and nuclear.
Honda’s FCX Clarity may be a cul de sac in the road to an oil-free future, or a stepping stone to the next generation of alternative fuel vehicles. It will take years to find out whether this risky venture will pay off, but Honda has proved that the time is now for a select few to take a quantum leap into the future.
Bravo, Honda!
The rundown:
Pros:
- Road manners that are virtually indistinguishable from “normal” cars
- A surprisingly upscale interior
- The bragging rights of being the world’s first production fuel cell vehicle
Cons:
- Hydrogen’s uncertain future
- Limited availability, unknown real world cost outside of lease program
- Until hydrogen refueling stations are common or Honda perfects its Home Energy Station, a 270 mile cruising range might still not be enough for real world use.
Details and specs
Technical features: V Flow fuel cell stack with wave- flow channels, advanced lithium ion batteries, combined electric drive motor/coaxial gearbox with shift-by-wire, regenerative braking.
Safety features: Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Traction Control System (TCS) with slideslip control, Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), frontal and side airbags, active front-seat head restraints, impact-absorbing interior, hydrogen filler inlet with integrated check valve.
Interior features: Climate controlled seats, XM Satellite radio, floating, layered instrument panel, Honda Bio-Fabric, 10 cubic foot trunk.
Exterior features:Lightweight aerodynamic 16” wheels, dual rear windows, aerodynamic underbody.