Honda began production of its new FCX Clarity fuel cell car Monday. The Japanese automaker will produce about 200 of them over the next three years. Honda would not say how many will make it to the U.S., but those that do will be leased only in Southern California.
The FCX Clarity converts compressed hydrogen gas into water in a process that releases a stream of electricity that powers the car. Fuel cars are “zero emission” vehicles, releasing only water vapor exhaust. It gets about 79 miles per “gallon equivalent” in city driving and 68 on the highway, according to Honda. (Electric motors produce maximum turning power at low speeds, and the cars have single-speed transmissions, so fuel economy on the highway is lower than in the city.)
In California, a three-year lease will run $600 a month, which includes collision insurance and maintenance.
Honda has previously estimated it will cost about $1 million to build each car.
General Motors already has a test fleet of about 100 fuel cell-powered Chevrolet Equinox SUVs in the hands of “ordinary consumers” in California, New York and Washington D.C.
We were able to test drive an early version of the Honda FCX last year in Washington D.C. The car Honda is now building is nearly identical.
in 1973 we had a oil crisis and we we were working to solve the energy crisis! we did a lot work, i was at that time a physicist and did a good job, i think? oil got plenty and every think was forgotten, all the progress! so we switched back to wasting oil! the cars got bigger again(SUV’s). i don’t think there is a real will to make us energy independent? scams are plenty around and if you don’t have enough knowledge you go for it. i have a knowledge but who is interested? in this country we have to reinvent the wheel?
By: rolf niebergall on June 19, 2008
at 10:40 pm