The History Of Honda Hydrogen Cars

In 1999, Honda introduced the first hydrogen vehicle prototypes, the FCX-V1, FCX-V2 and FCX-V3. The following year the FCX was the official pace car of the LA Marathon. The FCX lead the LA Marathon for eight years in a row.

By 2002, FCX fuel vehicles were delivered in the United States and Japan. Their first customer was the City of Los Angeles. Because of this fleet, Hydrogen Home Station experiments started in the United States. In 2003, the Honda FC stack was introduced to generate power in temperatures as low as -20ºC. By 2004, New York State was a Honda FCX fleet customer. Because of the FC stack, the vehicles were able to start and operate in freezing weather. The first real family, the Spallinos, put an FCX on the road in 2004.

By 2005, the FCX concept vehicle debuted at the Toyko Motor show with a sleek design thanks to a more compact fuel cell stack. The FCX Clarity, the first dedicated platform fuel cell vehicle, was introduced at the L.A. Auto Show with a lighter, smaller design and the ability to start up at -23ºF. By the summer of 2008, the FCX Clarity was sold to consumers to drive on the road.

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How Honda Hydrogen Cars Work

Consider how the Honda Clarity FX works. The fuel cell combines hydrogen with oxygen to make electricity to power the motor so the vehicle runs. The only byproduct produced by the Honda FX Clarity is water. Several basic parts make the Honda run including:

electric drive motor – propels the car so it moves.

hydrogen tank – stores the hydrogen.

lithium ion battery – stores the electricity.

power drive unit – controls the flow of electricity.

V flow fuel cell stack – generates the electricity.

Availability of Honda Hydrogen Cars

On July 25, 2008, the first Honda Clarity FCX was delivered to Honda of Santa Monica for Ron Yerxa and Annette Ballester. After the release of the first Honda Clarity FCX in July, 2008, the company expects to lease about 200 more units in the upcoming 3 years. In 2008, a few dozen units will be leased in the United States and Japan. A three year lease for a Honda Clarity FCX costs about $600 monthly including maintenance and collision insurance. Mendel states, “The FCX Clarity lease program is one more step toward meeting the societal goals of climate stability, renewable energy supplies and zero emissions transportation.”