Honda Hydrogen Car - Hydrogen car information

Honda Hydrogen Car - Going Green With Hydrogen Cars

Honda Hydrogen Car

Honda Hydrogen Car talks about Honda's involvement in alternative fuels, and more specifically about their progress in developing hydrogen powered cars. The FCX Clarity is Honda's pride and joy when it comes to hydrogen cars and we will examine this exciting new vehicle that will hit the roads around the world soon.

Honda Hydrogen Car - Honda FCX Clarity

Honda Hydrogen Car

Honda Hydrogen Cars Are On The Road

After years of evolution, Honda hydrogen cars are on the road. Committed to pursuing clean energy sources, Honda put the first dedicated platform hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on the market so everyday people have the opportunity to drive them.

The History Of Honda Hydrogen Cars

In 1999, Honda introduced the first hydrogen vehicle prototypes, the FCX-V1, FCX-V2 and FCX-V3. The following year the FCX was the official pace car of the LA Marathon. The FCX lead the LA Marathon for eight years in a row.

By 2002, FCX fuel vehicles were delivered in the United States and Japan. Their first customer was the City of Los Angeles. Because of this fleet, Hydrogen Home Station experiments started in the United States. In 2003, the Honda FC stack was introduced to generate power in temperatures as low as -20ºC. By 2004, New York State was a Honda FCX fleet customer. Because of the FC stack, the vehicles were able to start and operate in freezing weather. The first real family, the Spallinos, put an FCX on the road in 2004.

By 2005, the FCX concept vehicle debuted at the Toyko Motor show with a sleek design thanks to a more compact fuel cell stack. The FCX Clarity, the first dedicated platform fuel cell vehicle, was introduced at the L.A. Auto Show with a lighter, smaller design and the ability to start up at -23ºF. By the summer of 2008, the FCX Clarity was sold to consumers to drive on the road.

The Clear Story About The Honda Clarity FCX

After years of development, the Honda Clarity FCX was first made available for lease in July, 2008 in California. The decision was primarily based on the proximity of hydrogen fueling stations in southern California. John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda, proclaimed, “This is an important day in the history of fuel-cell vehicle technology and a monumental step closer to the day when fuel cell cars will be part of the mainstream.”

Features of the Honda Clarity FCX

The Honda Clarity FCX motor quietly produces about 127 horsepower. A central gage shows the driver what the electric motor is doing. A circle in the center indicates how much hydrogen is being used with shading to show how much is left in the tank. With 13 cubic feet of truck space, the Honda Clarity FCX offers plenty of cargo room. Safety standards include six airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist, Electronic Brake Distribution systems and a Collision Mitigation Braking System. The mid-size 4-door sedan design is stylish and powerful.

How Honda Hydrogen Cars Work

Consider how the Honda Clarity FX works. The fuel cell combines hydrogen with oxygen to make electricity to power the motor so the vehicle runs. The only byproduct produced by the Honda FX Clarity is water. Several basic parts make the Honda run including:

electric drive motor – propels the car so it moves.
hydrogen tank – stores the hydrogen.
lithium ion battery – stores the electricity.
power drive unit – controls the flow of electricity.
V flow fuel cell stack – generates the electricity.

Availability of Honda Hydrogen Cars

On July 25, 2008, the first Honda Clarity FCX was delivered to Honda of Santa Monica for Ron Yerxa and Annette Ballester. After the release of the first Honda Clarity FCX in July, 2008, the company expects to lease about 200 more units in the upcoming 3 years. In 2008, a few dozen units will be leased in the United States and Japan. A three year lease for a Honda Clarity FCX costs about $600 monthly including maintenance and collision insurance. Mendel states, “The FCX Clarity lease program is one more step toward meeting the societal goals of climate stability, renewable energy supplies and zero emissions transportation.”

Honda Clarity FCX Enjoys Celebrity Status

The second Honda Clarity FCX was delivered to Jamie Lee Curtis and husband Christopher Guest on July 31, 2008. The couple advocates a green lifestyle and owned other hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles. According to Curtis, “I really wasn't expecting it to be so luxurious. It's luxurious, luxurious, luxurious! I love the interior layout, design and access to controls. It is user-friendly and very modern.”

The Future Of Honda Hydrogen Cars

Honda continues to progress and experiment with hydrogen technology to make it more efficient and accessible. Honda President, Takeo Fukui, stated after the release of the Honda FCX Clarity, “By evolving a next model based on this, I think the level of technology will become very close to that of mass produced ordinary vehicles within 10 years or so. In 2018, I believe the development will have been very advanced.” Fukui sees the possible technical challenges facing Honda including minimizing the amount of noble metals used to make fuel cells, improving hydrogen storage and making hydrogen more affordable for everyone.

Thank you to Stacey Doyle for this "Honda Hydrogen Car" article.

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