Digital Journal — The first hydrogen-powered fuel-cell car will be available to consumers in mid-2008, Honda announced. The FCX Clarity will only be available to Southern California residents at a lease term of $600 per month.
Debuting its first alternative-energy car, Honda said the FCX Clarity uses a lithium ion battery pack and a single hydrogen storage tank to power the vehicle’s electric motor.
The four-door sedan will merely emit water vapour and sport a range of 270 miles.
The environmentally friendly vehicle will be available to “limited” customers in California. A three-year lease term will set back a consumer $600 per month, making this car one of the few affordable green cars.
The LA Times reports that Honda will want the car back after the lease. The company will use the lease term to gather information on the FCX Clarity. Essentially, the hydrogen-powered cars are Honda’s major test-drive to see if the vehicles suit the market.
Honda FCX Clarity
Tetsuo Iwamura, American Honda president and CEO, said in the press release:
Step by step, with continuous effort, commitment and focus, we are working to overcome obstacles to the mass-market potential of zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell automobiles.Just like Toyota’s Prius, the FCX Clarity will feature exterior styling to let people know about the car’s green credentials. Also, the car’s upholstery and door lining is made from plant-based material “that offers CO2 reductions as an alternative to traditional interior materials.”
Honda FCX Clarity
While Honda’s new car will debut to a handful of customers in mid-2008, widespread availability is still years away. Among the challenges car manufacturers face in mass producing enviro-friendly vehicles are technological obstacles, safety issues and limited refueling infrastructure.
