Honda's FCX Clarity

A while back I discussed some aspects of the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell powered experimental car. I was impressed with many of the ideas inherent in the car. Recently I read an article that gives a different picture of the car's future.

The bottom line on this article is that the fuel cell approach is not going to work for a couple of reasons. The most critical one the author believes is that fuel-cell technology has been eclipsed by vastly cheaper, here-now advances in batteries and plug-in electric vehicles. He does a comparison of the energy return for the FCX and a the all-electric Tesla Roadster with a battery. His conclusions are that the Tesla's per-mile costs in electricity are roughly one-quarter of what they are in the FCX Clarity.

That's a giant gap to overcome. He also wonders why a very smart company like Honda is putting so much money in a technology that will not be competitive? He believes that there are two reasons. "First, major manufacturers must begin complying with California's mandate that each sell 7,500 zero-emission vehicles between 2012 and 2014. Fuel-cell vehicles get extra points in meeting this quota."

The second reason is that most of the new technology used in the FCX can be transferred to future electric vehicles, even if they won't be using a fuel cell.

What do you think Honda's reasons are for designing a car that currently must cost around 2 million dollars each?

Here is the article:

http://www.courant.com/business/hc-autoclarity0221.artfeb21,0,1545481.story

Comments or E-mail me


Honda Accord Performance Articles

Honda Accord Appearance Articles


Thanks for visiting.