Honda has started sales of its Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle in Japan. The spiritual successor to the FCX Clarity, a lease-only hydrogen-powered vehicle introduced in 2007, made its debut at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show in October last year.
The Clarity is the world’s first five-passenger sedan type fuel cell vehicle (FCV), realised by making the fuel cell powertrain more compact using original Honda technologies and fitting it entirely under the hood of the car, the company says. The Toyota Mirai is a four-seater.
Combined with improved powertrain efficiency and a reduced energy requirement for driving, a 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen storage tank provides a cruising range of approximately 750 km in the Japanese cycle, an increase of around 30% compared to the previous FCV model. This also means that the Clarity has the best range among all zero emissions cars today, surpassing the Mirai FCV’s 502 km (US EPA-estimated) range. By the way, FCVs emit only water vapour from the tailpipe.
The long range improves the practicality of the Clarity as an everyday car. Its hydrogen tank can be refilled in around three minutes, not too different from a regular internal combustion engined car.
Despite the reduction of the powertrain’s size, output is up. The motor in the Clarity is good for 130 kW at 500 volts, which is up from the 100 kW at 300 volts produced by the FCX Clarity. Its output density of 3.1 kW per litre, meanwhile, betters the FCX’s 1.85 kW per litre by a staggering 60%. Torque is also up, with 300 Nm of twist compared to the 256 Nm.
The Clarity Fuel Cell is even powerful enough to be a donor. In combination with a portable external power output device called the Power Exporter 9000, which also went on sale together with the car, the Clarity can function as a “power source on wheels” capable of supplying approximately seven-days’ worth of electricity for an average (Japanese) household.
For the first year, Honda will focus on lease sales of around 200 units to local government bodies or businesses it has already been working with for the popularisation of FCVs. During this period, Honda will collect info and feedback before retail sales to individual customers begin.
Honda will start with small-volume production at Tochigi, eventually expanding production volume for the FCV. The company plans to introduce the Clarity Fuel Cell to Europe and the US before the end of 2016. In Japan, it is priced at 7.66 million yen (RM276,343). We’ve sampled this amazing machine and you can read our first impressions story for more.
GALLERY: Honda Clarity Fuel Cell at Tokyo 2015
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wow, so advanced Honda and Japan. Our Proton how? From 1983 to 2016, nearly 40 years, has not invented anything. I wonder what they do in Proton?
33 years is “nearly 40 years”?
Wow !. I rather import this car compare to the Tesla. .. stupid joe nguyen wasting time & money
Where can find hydrogen refil station?
Useless without the hydrogen stations
Hydrogen Fuel cell –
Is the next technology to be mass-production after Petroleum based vehicle.
Hybrid just only temporary alternative choice for a very short time.
Oil company actually supports this cause it keeps the income stream intact by switching from selling petrol to selling hydrogen.
They hate electric cars actually.
So Honda basically took the new Civic’s body and absolutely butchered it till it became like that.
why eev or fcv design will have the fully closed or half closed rear wheel arch? is it related to any aerodynamic purpose?
Drag reduction. Look at vw xl1
the rear wheel arch? copy proton iswara fyi.
Macam citroen lama saja bentuknya
wonder why all big shot did not jump into fuel cell tech. keep pushing ev which have lots of hassle to begin with (battery capacity, charging time, electric cost, charging infra,etc). for me, fuel cell is the future.
The interior is gorgeous. Exterior is way better then Ugly Mirai.
looks better than latest toyota prius