Honda FCX Clarity: Hydrogen Cars Become A Reality

Motoring Channel Staff - 19/November/2007

Los Angeles, America — Changes in the automotive industry happen very slowly, but the launch of Honda's FCX Clarity at the recent L.A. Motor Show is another positive sign of zero emission automotion.

Using hydrogen gas to power an electric motor that outputs 100kW (134hp), the Honda FCX Clarity cannot be bought outright, but will be available to Californian residents in 2008 for a 3-year lease costing $600 per month.

In total the 3-year lease would cost US$21,600 after 36 months. This includes insurance and servicing costs.

"The FCX Clarity is a shining symbol of the progress we've made with fuel cell vehicles and of our belief in the promise of this technology," said Tetsuo Iwamura, American Honda president and CEO. 

"Step by step, with continuous effort, commitment and focus, we are working to overcome obstacles to the mass-market potential of zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell automobiles," added Iwamura.

At present Southern California is one of the only places in the world with a basic hydrogen infrastructure (hydrogen filling stations), so the launch of the first public hydrogen cars in this region makes sense. There are about two dozen hydrogen fuelling stations around California, with more planned.

Other countries beginning to invest in hydrogen infrastructure include a handful of European countries, Canada, and Japan.

As one of the world's first publicly available hydrogen fuel cell cars, the Honda FCX's compressed hydrogen gas tanks allow for a cruising distance of about 430km (270 miles) and a top speed of 160km/h (100mph) is possible. 

This zero emissions vehicle is totally pure, outputting only water. 

As far as the design of the car, the Honda FCX Clarity is a 4-door sedan with a passing resemblance to the current Honda Civic sedan (tested here). It also uses a range of environmentally friendly materials in its construction, such as Bio-Fabric for the seat upholstery and door linings. According to Honda, this new plant-based material offers CO2 reductions as an alternative to traditional interior materials.

The Honda FCX Clarity is also packed with a range of standard equipment, including a full compliment of advanced safety, comfort and convenience features. As well as radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), a rear view camera, multiple airbags, a collision mitigation brake system (CMBS), premium sound system, air conditioned seats, and a state-of-the-art navigation system with hydrogen station locations. 

Honda has taken the first steps towards creating a true zero emission hydrogen powered vehicle for everyday drivers who want to reduce their carbon footprint.

The Hydrogen Car Explained:

How the FCX Clarity works: According to Honda, the FCX Clarity uses its fuel cell stack as the vehicle's main power source. Hydrogen combines with atmospheric oxygen in the fuel cell stack, where energy from the reaction is converted into electric power used to propel the vehicle. 

Additional energy is also generated through the capture of kinetic energy from vehicle braking and deceleration (known as regenerative braking), which is stored along with surplus energy from the fuel cell in the lithium ion battery pack, and is used to supplement power from the fuel cell, when needed. The vehicle's only emission is water.

The new car utilises Honda's V Flow stack in combination with a new compact and efficient lithium ion battery pack and a single hydrogen storage tank to power the vehicle's electric drive motor. 

The 'V Flow FC Stack' features an entirely new cell structure that achieves a higher output of 100kW, smaller size and lower weight, with a 50% improvement in output density by volume, and a 67% increase in output density by mass, compared to the previous Honda FC stack.

The new V Flow FC (Vertical Gas Flow Cell Structure) Stack introduces a cell structure in which hydrogen and air flow vertically, and gravity is used to facilitate more efficient drainage of the water byproduct from the electrical generation layer. The result is greater stability in power generation. The new structure also allows flow channel depth to be reduced by 17% - a major contributing factor in creating thinner cells and a more compact stack.

The FCX Clarity's revolutionary V Flow platform packages the powerful Honda V Flow fuel cell stack in the vehicle's center tunnel, between the two front seats. The compact size of the new V Flow FC Stack allows for a more spacious interior which would otherwise be unattainable in a sleek, low-slung sedan.

Honda rightly claims that the FCX Clarity's only emission is water. But there are some CO2 emissions related to the production of hydrogen. These C02 emissions vary by source. Honda says that the well-to-wheel CO2 emissions using hydrogen reformed from natural gas - the most widely used method of production today - are less than half that of a conventional petrol vehicle.

With the production of hydrogen from water by electrolysis, CO2 emissions can be further reduced and ultimately approach zero if the electricity is generated from sustainable sources, such as solar, wind, hydro and wave power.

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