http://www.justmorecars.com/honda/2009-fcx_clarity/ http://www.justmorecars.com/cat_img/honda/2009-fcx_clarity/800x600/honda-fcx_clarity_2009_800x600_wallpaper_01.jp http://www.justmorecars.com/cat_img/honda/2009-fcx_clarity/800x600/honda-fcx_clarity_2009_800x600_wallpaper_02.jp Honda FCX Clarity Honda unveiled the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle at the Los Angeles Aut Show, announcing plans to begin limited retail marketing of the vehicle i summer 2008. http://www.justmorecars.com/cat_img/honda/2009-fcx_clarity/800x600/honda-fcx_clarity_2009_800x600_wallpaper_04.jp http://www.justmorecars.com/cat_img/honda/2009-fcx_clarity/800x600/honda-fcx_clarity_2009_800x600_wallpaper_06.jp The FCX Clarity is a next-generation, zero-emissions, hydrogen-powere fuel cell vehicle based on the entirely-new Honda V Flow fuel cel platform, and powered by the highly compact, efficient and powerful Hond V Flow fuel cell stack. Featuring tremendous improvements to drivin range, power, weight and efficiency - and boasting a low-slung, dynami and sophisticated appearance, previously unachievable in a fuel cel vehicle - the FCX Clarity marks the significant progress Honda continue to make in advancing the real-world performance and appeal of th hydrogen-powered fuel cell car. "The FCX Clarity is a shining symbol of the progress we've made with fue cell vehicles and of our belief in the promise of this technology," sai Tetsuo Iwamura, American Honda president and CEO. "Step by step, wit continuous effort, commitment and focus, we are working to overcom obstacles to the mass-market potential of zero-emissions hydrogen fue cell automobiles." American Honda plans to lease the FCX Clarity to a limited number o retail consumers in Southern California with the first deliveries takin place in summer 2008. Full details of the lease program will be set closer to launch, bu current plans call for a three-year lease term with a price of 0 pe month, including maintenance and collision insurance. American Honda i also developing a service infrastructure that provides customers with th best balance of convenience and the highest quality of service. When th FCX Clarity requires periodic maintenance, customers will simply schedul a visit with their local Honda dealer. American Honda will transport th vehicle to their fuel cell service facility, located in the greater Lo Angeles area, where all required work will be performed. At the completio of the work, the customer will pick up their car from the dealer. How It Works The FCX Clarity utilizes Honda's V Flow stack in combination with a ne compact and efficient lithium ion battery pack and a single hydroge storage tank to power the vehicle's electric drive motor. The fuel cel stack operates as the vehicle's main power source. Hydrogen combines wit atmospheric oxygen in the fuel cell stack, where chemical energy from th reaction is converted into electric power used to propel the vehicle Additional energy captured through regenerative braking and deceleratio is stored in the lithium ion battery pack, and used to supplement powe from the fuel cell, when needed. The vehicle's only emission is water. Honda V Flow Fuel Cell Platform The FCX Clarity's revolutionary new V Flow platform packages th ultra-compact, lightweight and powerful Honda V Flow fuel cell stack (6 percent smaller than the previous Honda FC stack) in the vehicle's cente tunnel, between the two front seats. Taking advantage of a completely ne cell configuration, the vertically-oriented stack achieves an output o 100 kilowatts (kW) (versus 86kW in the current Honda FC stack) with a 5 percent increase in output density by volume (67 percent by mass). It compact size allows for a more spacious interior and more efficien packaging of other powertrain components, which would otherwise b unattainable in a sleek, low-slung sedan. The FCX Clarity boasts numerous other significant advances in th performance and packaging of Honda fuel cell technology, compared to th current-generation FCX. These include: a 20-percent increase in fuel economy - to the approximate equivalent of 68 mpg2 combined fuel economy (about 2-3 times the fuel economy of a gasoline-powered car, and 1.5 times that of a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle, of comparable size and performance); a 30-percent increase in vehicle range - to 270 miles; a 25-percent improvement in power-to-weight ratio, in part from an approximate 400-pound reduction in the fuel cell powertrain weight, for superior performance and efficiency despite a substantial increase in overall vehicle size; a 45-percent reduction in the size of the fuel cell powertrain - nearly equivalent, in terms of volume, to a modern gas-electric hybrid powertrain; an advanced new lithium-ion battery pack that is 40 percent lighter and 50 percent smaller than the current-generation FCX's ultra-capacitor; and a single 5,000-psi hydrogen storage tank with 10 percent additional hydrogen capacity than the previous model. FCX Clarity Design More than just a fuel cell vehicle - the FCX Clarity speaks to Honda's vision of the future of automobile design and performance freed from the constraints of conventional powertrain technologies. The FCX Clarity's four-door sedan platform features a short-nose body and spacious cabin with comfortable accommodations for four people and their luggage. Major powertrain components - including the electric motor, fuel cell stack, battery pack and hydrogen tank - have been made more compact and are distributed throughout the vehicle to further optimize space, comfort and total vehicle performance. Advanced Materials and Components In keeping with its theme as an environmentally-advanced automobile, the FCX Clarity features seat upholstery and door linings made from Honda Bio-Fabric - a newly-developed, plant-based material that offers CO2 reductions as an alternative to traditional interior materials, along with outstanding durability and resistance to wear, stretching, and damage from sunlight. Designed to appeal to forward-thinking customers seeking the ultimate in zero-emissions, alternative-fuel vehicle performance, the FCX Clarity is also equipped with a full compliment of advanced safety, comfort and convenience features, including a state-of-the-art navigation system with hydrogen station locations, backup camera, premium audio, climate-controlled seats and Bluetoothâ„¢ connectivity. Other improvements, such as shift-by-wire, electric power steering (EPS), and a newly-designed instrument panel with an easy-to-read hydrogen fuel-consumption display, further improve its customer appeal and ease of operation. CO2 Emissions The FCX Clarity's only emission is water. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions come only from the production of hydrogen, which varies by source; however, well-to-wheel CO2 emissions using hydrogen reformed from natural gas - the most widely used method of production today - are less than half that of a conventional gasoline vehicle. With the production of hydrogen from water by electrolysis, CO2 emissions can be further reduced and ultimately approach zero if the electricity used for electrolysis is generated using solar, wind, water or nuclear power. Honda has developed its own solar cells, with half of the CO2 emissions in the production stage compared to conventional crystalline silicon cells; and has begun mass-production and retail sales of this technology in Japan for both commercial and residential use.
