It is a known fact that fossil fuels will deplete one day, and car manufacturers are racing to develop alternative fuel cars. At the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, Honda has launched its second-generation fuel cell vehicle, called the Honda Clarity.
Boasting a fuel cell stack that’s no larger than the company’s 3.5-litre V6, the Honda Clarity boasts an output of more than 134 hp, while the electric motor produces 174 hp. Yet, the fuel cell stack is 33% smaller in size than the one found on Honda’s earlier fuel cell vehicle, the FCX Clarity.
The reduction in size of the fuel cell stack meant that Honda was able to fit it under the hood of a regular sedan-type vehicle. This powertrain layout enabled a full cabin package that seats five adults comfortably .
What about the driving range, you ask. Well, Honda claims that the new Clarity has set a class-leading benchmark with a range of 700 km, beating the Toyota Mirai’s 502 km by a large margin. The 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen storage tank can be refilled in just three minutes.
Honda will also be offering the Power Exporter 9000, which has the capacity to feed approximately seven-days worth of electricity for an average household. Yup, the Honda Clarity also functions as a mobile power generator.
The Honda Clarity will go on sale in Japan in March 2016 with a price tag of 7.66 million yen (~RM272,000 before excise duties and tax). For its first year of sale, Honda will focus on sales mainly to local government bodies and business entities. They will then gather vital information including in-market use situation before offering the car to the general public.
