What is it?

One of Honda's newest concept vehicles, the FCX Clarity is a ZERO Emissions sedan. I had only recently heard of this car while browsing the internet, I don't know why I haven't heard of it until now, but I can tell you I'm very impressed with it.
In developing the FCX Clarity, Honda
has managed to strike the perfect
balance between futuristic technology
and the very human desire for a thrilling ride. The result amounts to
zero emissions and maximum driving experience.

Yes, the FCX Clarity is the car of the future, but it's ready for the road in 2008. (source)
The Honda FCX Clarity is powered by an electric motor. No matter what you drive, it's going to have a motor of some sort, obviously. The difference in this case of the FCX Clarity motor is Honda's Vertical Flow (V-Flow) fuel cell stack...

The advanced layout enables a vertical flow of hydrogen and oxygen from the air through a more efficient package; and it allows cold-weather startups in as low a temperature as minus 30 degrees Celsius. (source)


How It Works:
A hydrogen fuel cell produces electricity for the vehicle. The fuel cell combines hydrogen, which is stored in a fuel tank onboard the vehicle, with oxygen from the air to make electricity. The electricity then powers the electric motor, which in turn drives the front wheels. Water vapor and heat are the only byproducts.

A fuel cell is made up of a thin electrolyte film wedged between two electrode layers in between two separators. Several hundred layers of these cells are connected in a series.

 

1. Hydrogen fuel is fed into the anode of the fuel cell. Helped by a catalyst, hydrogen atoms are split into electrons and protons.
2. Electrons are channeled through a circuit to produce electricity.
3. Protons pass through the polymer electrolyte membrane.
4. Oxygen (from the air) enters the cathode and combines with the electrons and protons to form water.
5. Water vapor and heat are released as byproducts of this reaction.


Advances in fuel cell vehicle design accelerated rapidly once we began to develop our Honda fuel cell stack, turning conventional thinking literally on its ear. Read more about the Honda fuel-cell evolution. (source)

Benefits:

The benefits of using Hydrogen and fuel cell technology is that instead of using fossil fuels to power the engine which create harmful chemicals for the environment, fuel cells only generate water vapor into the air, the air in which we breathe. Zero emissions means cleaner air for both you and your future generations.



Driving:

Now, you know how it works, how do you go about driving one? Here's the good and bad news:
The FCX Clarity is ready for the road. A limited number of
these groundbreaking vehicles will be leased to Southern
Californians starting during the summer of 2008.

The reason for this limited initial release is that in order to drive a fuel cell vehicle, you have to be able to refuel it. And since these clean cars do not run on gasoline, you can't just stop off at your regular corner gas station to fill up. Hydrogen fuel stations are critical to the deployment of a fuel cell car and, as it stands now, stations accessible to the public are still quite limited.

Therefore, only customers currently residing in the Torrance, Santa Monica and Irvine areas who meet additional qualification criteria will be eligible to take a FCX Clarity home. Honda wants to ensure that FCX Clarity drivers will be able to take their vehicles in for service at participating dealers and have convenient access to refueling stations. Leasing will be handled through American Honda Motor Co., Inc. in conjunction with local dealers. Maintenance will also be covered by the three-year $600/month lease. (source)
Although not official, it's estimated that each Clarity costs Honda at least $300,000 to build each one. Due for release in 2008, only about 100 will actually be able to be leased, and this is at $600/month (including collision and maintenance) as stated above. (source)

Personal Opinion:

Although there is no possible way for me to get near one of these, I would like to share my initial reaction.
When I first saw the Clarity, it didn't stand out as much as I thought most concept cars should, example. It reminded me of a Civic and I feel they should have gone another route. On the other hand, it's good they didn't go crazy with the whole "futuristic" look most car companies are gearing towards nowadays. The Clarity does have an eco-friendly look to it (no hard/sharp edges or aggressive lo0k) but, a little more 'normal' it what I would like to see, not just with Honda but all automakers.


For more information, pictures, and research material take at look at these more in depth reviews.

• Honda FCX Clarity Official Site


• FCX Clarity: Bring on the hydrogen stations


• Honda FCX Clarity: Car of the century?


• Honda's FCX Clarity for Release Soon in California


• Honda FCX Concept