Honda FCX Clarity fuel-cell vehicle enters (limited) production

Posted Mon Jun 16 2008 9:43 AM by Siddharth Raja

Honda’s new FCX Clarity fuel-cell vehicle has finally entered production after the car was first previewed as a concept as far back as 1999 when the FCX-V1 prototype was revealed in Tokyo. Honda’s fuel-cell technology has in fact been in development for more than 19 years and the first production cars were presented today to three U.S. buyers at Honda’s dedicated fuel cell vehicle factory in Japan.

Lease sales are scheduled to begin in July in the U.S., and in Japan this autumn. The combined sales plan for Japan and the U.S. will be approximately 70 cars per year, with a total of 200 units over three years. Customers will follow a three-year lease term, at a price of $600 per month including maintenance and insurance.

The fuel cell stack in the FCX Clarity is produced by Honda at a separate plant. It uses an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to convert chemical energy into electrical energy to power a motor that drives the car’s wheels, and emits only water. Fuel economy is rated at the equivalent of 68mpg (3.46L/100km) from its 5,000psi hydrogen tank, giving the FCX Clarity a range of 270 miles (435km) between fill-ups.

Honda FCX Clarity fuel-cell vehicle

Gallery: Honda FCX Clarity

Reader Comments

Mon Jun 16 2008 10:18 AM
Gus says

I wonder how much each one costs (to build).
Mon Jun 16 2008 4:08 PM
Gus says

The other question would be this; That is what I pay a month to BUY my new Mustang (including insurance).

So, in order to RENT this car, and have to deal with the limitations of finding available Hydrogen, people will be shelling out the same as what it would cost to buy a $40,000 vehicle.

You would have to be saving a LOT of money on the cost of fuel, in other words, driving a lot, which, as we all know, is penalized in a lease.

Now, while the concept intrigues me, and the technology is exciting, I'm not sure it makes sense other than from a "look at me" point of view?

Now, if it were a $300 a month lease...
Tue Jun 17 2008 9:23 AM
Alan says

I think this is really just getting early adopters to be lab rats testing feasibility of a hydrogen fuel cell car. Interesting idea, but still far away from everyday reality
Tue Jun 17 2008 9:24 AM
Alan says

Oh, and is it just me, or do you think it looks like a Civic fused with Prius?

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