Honda pulled the wraps off of the customer version of the sleek-looking 2008 FCX hydrogen fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicle at the LA auto show this morning and gave it a name – FCX Clarity. Honda President Tetsuo Iwamura said that Clarity is “a name that speaks to Honda’s clear view of the future.” This future becomes available to the public in the summer of 2008.
The prototype we drove last year looked quite stunning, as most concepts do. We’re happy to report that the production version we’re looking at today, while slightly tweaked in the headlamp and taillamp areas, looks every bit as attractive. OK, the tires are now skinnier 215/60R16 low rolling resistance units, but it still looks good. Who said green cars had to look dorky? And in a welcome break from alt-fuel vehicle rollout tradition, this one’s painted a deep red.
EPA figures were not announced, but Honda estimates that the Clarity FCX will be rated at a gasoline equivalent of 68 mpg (city / highway combined). This represents a range of 270 miles in combined driving – quite a bit less than the 350-mile figure we heard at our drive of the FCX Concept a year ago.
The intention is to put the Clarity FCX in "regular and continuous use" by members of the public – not just public utilities and demonstration fleets. As such, there will be no daily visits by Honda engineers in white lab coats to inspect the vehicle and download information from data loggers.
But the term "production" is hard to apply to the 2008 Clarity FCX. The volume will be very low – around 100 if you believe the unconfirmed rumors bandied about at the show this morning. Honda says the exact number built will be determined by a number of factors, including interest shown here at the LA Auto show over the next two weeks.
You won't be able to buy a Clarity FCX. It's a lease deal, and the terms are 3 years at $600 per month. Furthermore, only Californians who live near one of three hydrogen refueling stations in Santa Monica, Torrance or Irvine will be eligible to get in line.
A wider rollout is planned, but no timetable was given. Hydrogen infrastructure development is the limiting factor here. Honda is taking matters into its own hands on this front with the development of a home refueling station. It isn't ready yet, but work is ongoing and prototypes are said to be 75% smaller than early examples.
If the Clarity FCX fails, it won't be from lack of style or performance. The fate of this car depends on the future evolution of the hydrogen infrastructure. If hydrogen becomes widely available, Honda just might be several steps ahead of the others. -- Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing.
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I wonder what this car would actually cost? Doesn't matter really, fuel cells will never be a major player in cars. Battery technology is progressing fast then fuel cell technology and would eliminate the energy losses created by using electricity to create hydrogen and then using a fuel cell to turn the hydrogen back into electricity.
Nice looking car though.
One could argue that hydrogen engines will eventually replace the gasoline engines in Chevrolet Volt type vehicles to achieve no emissions with greater range. So that doesn't necessarily mean that hydrogen cars are out of the question.
no additional comments from Honda about the CR-Z? I was hoping to hear more about that at the LA Auto Show.
Is it me or does the FCX look like a redesigned Prius?
Regardless, this should be a great car, especially with that estimate MPG.
I have a 100-mile/day commute with Santa Monica on one end, but at $600/month, I don't know if that would actually save me any money. Does Honda pay the refueling costs? How much does it cost to refuel with hydrogen? How is it measured?
While it still looks good, I gotta say the prototype looked absolutely stunning. The name is a good one, though I imagine it'll be some time before I recognize what a Honda Clarity, is. Why only LA? A FC station just opened in NY.
Is the $600/month including the home energy station?
No. The home energy station is not included. In fact, it won't be ready to sell for quite some time. Refuelling costs are NOT included in the $600 per month lease payment.
The exact details of why LA was chosen were not given, but I suspect a couple of factors: proximity to Honda's head office in Torrance, and; there are three (or more) Hydrogen refuelling stations close enough together that the cars could be operated more or less normally across the LA basin.
I too, have Santa Monica on the office end of my 50-mile commute. Would I be eligible? "No," I was told. They want the home end of the commute near one of the three stations listed above. And the candidates need to have daily usage patterns that meet Honda's criteria.
And at $600 per month, Honda isn't making any money on the deal either. These are customer cars, but Honda is learning from the real-world experience.
Without a doubt this is the most significant car in the show. A REAL fuel cell car!, the only production car in the world that produces ZERO emissions of ANY kind. As we all know this is the third generation fuel cell from Honda. Furthermore, this is a real car, not some prototype with a fuel cell crammed in just for show. This car is a huge technological tour-de-force which no other automaker is even close to emulating. The Volt is pathetic, another "concept" that has to be pushed around because in reality the drivetrain doesn't even exist yet. Yes, its a car before its time but a banner for Honda's second to non environmental credentials. Now lets see if the hydrogen infrastructure follows. If produced by electrolysis derived from renewable electricity sources the entire cycle will be zero emissions, period. If ICELAND can do it (they are on course for a hydrogen economy with zero production emissions) why the hell can't we??????
I like it. They went out of their way to keep it distinctive.
Reminds me of some of the better cab-forward designs from Chrysler.
The $600 a month INCLUDES the car, all maintenece, and collision insurance, so in the end its not that bad at all. Honda is taking a HUGE LOSS profit wise but with a car like this its justifiable.
I wish Edmunds would go a bit more in depth concerning the super advanced technology this car offers as I know pretty much everything about it as of now.
Here is some very informative information if youre interested straight from Shawn Church (well known Honda tuner/TOV mod) from the TOV-Temple of VTEC.
http://revver.com/watch/487373/tov-video-honda-fcx-clarity-at-the-la-auto-show-part-1/
http://revver.com/watch/487230/tov-video-honda-fcx-clarity-at-the-la-auto-show-part-2/
I am baffled as to why people think this car looks so stunning. Its a Honda Prius. The tech is nice but not practical due to lack of fueling stations and limited range. You cant take this car on a long road trip.
1487, its a start. The article states that it will be leased where hydrogen stations are located so thats really not a huge issue. The range isnt all that great but the milage and technology is phenomenal. And unlike GMs Volt this car didnt stray far from the original concept.
Styling is subjective but it does have something about it that makes you just want to keep looking at it. The interior is VERY VERY nice.
I am intrigued with the Honda FCX Clarity, I applaud Honda for making the effort. They are the "Think Outside of the Box" company. My biggest concern with hydrogen cars is what about tail pipe water vapor? How can a fuel cell car like this that emits water keep from freezing the tail pipe? What about potential owners in Alaska or Minnesota in below zero environments? I have lived in these climates and they are brutal on any car. This car is being tested in Southern California and will not have to contend with a harsh winter climate. It seems to me that it is like sticking a potato in the tail pipe of a conventional car. I read where the fuel cell is heated but that does not mean the exhaust is treated to avoid freezing? I welcome feedback. Thanks.
How much is it going to cost to refuel at one of the stations?