Honda Wants You for the Gas-Free Hydrogen FCX Clarity

Apply to be the First to Drive the Car of the Future, Hydrogen-powered Honda FCX Clarity

With the current economy, drivers are doing anything they can to save on gas. For sure, they are downgrading from the Supersized SUVs. They are trading in the likes of Ford 150s, Dodge Durango Trucks, Chevrolet Silverado etc. They are embracing economic vehicles such as the Toyota Yarris, the Honda Fit, the Chevrolet Veo, the Mini Cooper and others. Now Toyota even has the Toyota iQ.

Honda Motor Co.'s new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the FCX Clarity, is estimated to get the equivalent of 74 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving. And it is stylish and smooth. According to many industry insiders, the Clarity opens a window into the possible. It is the combination of environmental responsibility and zero emissions with a fun, hip ride.

The gasoline-free vehicle has had a lot of buzz lately. And drivers are thankful to Honda for giving them a glimpse into the future. So far, debuted in July, the Clarity is available for lease. Honda Motor Co. is leasing about 200 of the cars to customers in Southern California during the next three years.

Everyone hopes that the battered economy and credit contraction will not keep drivers and car enthusiasts from this major technological advance. This car should get out of the auto shows. The question that is on everyone's mind is wether there are enough hydrogen fueling stations.

Honda Motor is offering three-year leases to a select few for $600 a month, which includes maintenance and collision coverage.

Who can afford this car? What are its features?

Since it is going to be leased in Southern California, expect a few stars to drive the hydrogen FCX Clarity. It offers quiet, steady acceleration, high torque and a 280-mile range.

Honda says the performance is on par with a similar-size car powered by a 2.4-liter engine, and it should know, as the 2008 Accord LX has just such an engine. The comparison is apt. The FCX motor produces 134 horsepower and 189 pound-feet of torque; the Accord’s in-line four makes 177 horsepower and 161 pound-feet. The Clarity weighs nearly 3,600 pounds, and while that is 400 pounds lighter than its predecessor, the Accord is some 300 pounds lighter yet. The wheelbases of the Clarity and Accord are identical at 110.2 inches.

The fuel cell combines hydrogen with oxygen to make electricity. The electricity then powers the electric motor, which in turn propels the vehicle. Water is the only byproduct the FCX Clarity leaves behind.

Roll over the numbered steps to learn about each stage of the process.

1. Hydrogen tank – Stores hydrogen
2. V Flow fuel cell stack – Generates electricity
3. Lithium-ion battery – Stores electricity
4. Power Drive Unit (PDU) – Governs electrical flow
5. Electric drive motor – Propels vehicle