Clarity
Honda finally revealed its hydrogen fel-cell sedan – the Honda FCX Clarity. And from the looks of it, this baby will be one of the most popular vehicles this year. Its exterior is sleek and smooth. It looks a lot like mix of Accord, Prius, and Azera. Its interior also provides more room than the three mentioned models.
Honda FCX Clarity is the first fuel cell car ever introduced in the market. The question whether this baby will be sold or not has been answered when Honda offered to lease it for $600 a month. But with regards to the number of Claritys it will release, the company is still not giving any figures.
Honda already told the press that it is planning to build more of Clarity in the plant where they produced Insight, S200, and NSX. And this plant is located in Tochigi. But of course the Clarity that was offered for a test drive a year ago will have some difference with the production model. The one that was used for test drive lacked a lot of the things that the production model has. The Clarity that will be produced will have a complete set of airbags and all the safety features necessary and available today. It also offers a more comfortable ride and drive-experience.
CO2 Emissions
The only thing coming out of the FCX is H2O. Yes, you read that right. The FCX Clarity’s only emission is water. CO2 emissions related to the production of hydrogen vary by source. But, well-to-wheel CO2 emissions using hydrogen reformed from natural gas are less than half that of a usual petrol automobile. With the construction of hydrogen from water by electrolysis, CO2 emissions are further reduced and ultimately come close to zero if the electricity is created from sustainable sources like solar, wind, water, and wave power. Honda has developed its own solar cells, with half the CO2 emissions in the production stage compared to usual crystalline silicon cells; and has begun mass-production and retail sales of this technology in Japan for both commercial and residential use. These panels are also used to generate electricity for the Torrance R&D refueling station.
The new Honda Clarity now has a 100-kW (136-hp) electric motor–boosted at times by the 288-volt lithium ion battery pack under the back seat–and the fan pushing the hydrogen through the suitcase-sized fuel stack between the front seats was quieter than most automotive air conditioners.
There are many other problems blocking the Clarity’s future. One of them is the hydrogen stations. There are only five publicly accessible hydrogen stations in California. And one can’t drive a Clarity for more than 135 miles away from the hydrogen station before I have to start driving back to refuel it. If you want a Clarity you have to live near a hydrogen fuel station and have a second car for longer trips.
And unless you own a big area of solar panels, obtaining hydrogen is still a complicated process. This process starts with methane and releases plenty of its own CO2. Honda says its “Home Energy Station” will make hydrogen for your car from your existing natural gas line while providing heat and electricity for your home. It still releases CO2, though, and is still in R&D.
There are still a lot of things that needs to be researched and improved for the Honda Clarity. But I bet Clarity will make it through the market. I’m just hoping Honda could extend the hydrogen capability of this baby. I mean there not so many hydrogen stations in Cali… and take note that to some people owning a car also means being able to take that car for a long drive. What’s the use of the Clarity if it can’t take you far because it keeps on running out of hydrogen, right? Well, that’s for the Clarity today. I hope I find good news about it tomorrow.
