Honda's hydrogen fuel cell concept car to go into production next year

[GaryC 7]

Honda's hydrogen fuel cell concept car to go into production next year

Friday, May 18, 2007

By Don Hammonds, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The age of the hybrid fuel cell car has arrived -- with a whisper.

Against the backdrop of ever-rising fuel prices and worries about global warming, Honda has unveiled its FCX hydrogen-powered fuel cell concept car, set to go into limited production next year.

Honda expects the 2008 FCX will get fuel mileage of around 68 mpg in combined highway and city driving, with a range of 270 miles. The only emission that the FCX's electric engine produces is water vapor created when hydrogen and oxygen combine to produce electricity

This is no ordinary automobile. Be that as it may, Honda officials emphasized that soon, driving such cars would be an everyday experience.

The FCX "is not just some far out, pie-in-the-sky exercise in what may or may not come to fruition some day in the distant future," said Steve Ellis, manager of fuel cell vehicle marketing for American Honda Motor Co. Inc. "We feel fuel cell electric vehicles are the best and ultimate solution to the twin environmental and societal challenges of global climate change and energy sustainability."

The FCX is the first hydrogen fuel cell car that has been certified for daily use by both the Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board.

"Along with that, we've already done our own internal crash testing to ensure that the FCX meets federal crash standards as well. So we consider this to be a production car," said Honda spokesman Chris Naughton.

The FCX looks more like an Italian concept car than a Japanese production car. It is equipped with a two-toned interior with generous contours and brilliantly lit displays that include easy-to-use information on hydrogen fuel consumption. The car's exterior features an overall teardrop shape with a dramatic sloping, yet short, front end.

Don't expect much change when the production model hits the road either, Mr. Naughton said.

"We very much expect to carry over not only the sleek styling and very spacious interior, but also the performance characteristics. ... Any changes will mainly slight tweaks, like headlights, bumper height and a few other things to make it a true production car," Mr. Naughton added.

Despite generating a lot of industry buzz, the FCX doesn't make a heck of a lot of noise. In fact, the car sounded similar to the whistle of a jet engine ready to take off as it zoomed around a test track at the Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, D.C.

The FCX drives an awful lot like any other car, if you're talking about a sports sedan and not a family car. The real surprise was how aggressively this car can handle. It tore into corners eagerly and without any noticeable body lean. The fun part was acceleration -- strictly linear with no sensation of gear shifting, due to its "shift-by-wire" technology. It picked up speed confidently and smoothly, with increases in speed accentuated by the rising jet engine sound of the car's powertrain system.

Honda introduced the first FCX hydrogen fuel cell car 18 years ago. It, along with the generations that succeeded it, were tiny, boxy two-passenger sedans that are a far cry from the current sleek luxury model.

The early versions of the car went to local and state governments, which provided feedback that Honda officials used to continue to develop the car.

Two years ago, Honda leased one of the little FCXs to its first retail customer, a California family.

The company plans to announce later this year exactly how many of the hydrogen fuel cell cars will be built and leased to customers. (Initially at least, the cars are expected to be offered for lease only). Honda said the car's lease likely will be more than $500 a month because the FCX will be marketed as a luxury car.

Despite Honda's optimism, sizable hurdles remain to widespread use of hydrogen cars, not the least of which is getting enough refueling stations in operation to make them practical. There are only about 60 hydrogen fuel cell refueling stations in the nation, with about 50 of them in California.

But Honda thinks it has that problem licked. It's working on a home refueling station that will use natural gas to create hydrogen -- and provide electricity and heat to homes.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07138/787006-185.stm

[eric&gen 0]

What if you hit a huge pot or a large bump kkkkaaaaboooooom Lol.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Despite Honda's optimism, sizable hurdles remain to widespread use of hydrogen cars, not the least of which is getting enough refueling stations in operation to make them practical. There are only about 60 hydrogen fuel cell refueling stations in the nation, with about 50 of them in California.

Granola eating hippies.

[GaryC 7]

Despite Honda's optimism, sizable hurdles remain to widespread use of hydrogen cars, not the least of which is getting enough refueling stations in operation to make them practical. There are only about 60 hydrogen fuel cell refueling stations in the nation, with about 50 of them in California.

Granola eating hippies.

The next line is what will make this thing take off. I remember seeing this in a Popular Science story years ago.

But Honda thinks it has that problem licked. It's working on a home refueling station that will use natural gas to create hydrogen -- and provide electricity and heat to homes.

Natural gas is something we have a lot of and using it this way is very green. You want to cut back on oil? This is the way to go for me.

[GaryC 7]

This is even better. I have always said that fuel cells were the way to go. It is a permanent and renewable energy source. Can you guys believe that I could go green?

New Technology Programs

Fuel Cells

Our 200-kilowatt (kw) fuel cell power plant in Yonkers, Westchester County, was the world’s first commercial fuel cell to run on a waste gas created at a wastewater treatment plant, producing electricity through a virtually emission-free chemical reaction rather than combustion. This project earned us the 2000 Environmental Project of the Year Award from the Association of Energy Engineers.

The gas used by the fuel cell, primarily methane and carbon dioxide, is a byproduct of sewage treatment. In the past this gas was flared into the atmosphere, creating pollution. The Yonkers fuel cell helps avoid flaring (or burning off) of the potentially harmful waste gas, reducing emissions to the air with the added benefit of creating electricity.

http://www.nypa.gov/services/fuel%20cells.htm

Edited December 8, 2007 by GaryC

[natty bumppo 297]

This is even better. I have always said that fuel cells were the way to go. It is a permanent and renewable energy source. Can you guys believe that I could go green?

I thought you were already there ...

After all ... you do have a pony ... car

[GaryC 7]

This is even better. I have always said that fuel cells were the way to go. It is a permanent and renewable energy source. Can you guys believe that I could go green?

I thought you were already there ...

After all ... you do have a pony ... car

Heh, My car doesn't qualify as green. The city mileage is not the best in the world. But it does look great with me in it. I am thinking about getting a second car to drive to work that gets better mileage. Sooner or later Luz will have her DL and she will need something to drive anyway.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Despite Honda's optimism, sizable hurdles remain to widespread use of hydrogen cars, not the least of which is getting enough refueling stations in operation to make them practical. There are only about 60 hydrogen fuel cell refueling stations in the nation, with about 50 of them in California.

Granola eating hippies.

The next line is what will make this thing take off. I remember seeing this in a Popular Science story years ago.

But Honda thinks it has that problem licked. It's working on a home refueling station that will use natural gas to create hydrogen -- and provide electricity and heat to homes.

Natural gas is something we have a lot of and using it this way is very green. You want to cut back on oil? This is the way to go for me.

Here in OC, all taxis and city buses run on CNG. Also, if you drive a hybrid or electric car, you can get a decal that allows you to drive in the carpool lane. Incentives make all the difference. Stop rewarding overconsumption and instead reward conservation.

[eric&gen 0]

I am sticking with gas all the way baby easy access.

[natty bumppo 297]

This is even better. I have always said that fuel cells were the way to go. It is a permanent and renewable energy source. Can you guys believe that I could go green?

I thought you were already there ...

After all ... you do have a pony ... car

Heh, My car doesn't qualify as green. The city mileage is not the best in the world. But it does look great with me in it. I am thinking about getting a second car to drive to work that gets better mileage. Sooner or later Luz will have her DL and she will need something to drive anyway.

Does this mean pony cars ... with all those horses aren't green *disappointed*

I know what you mean with better mileage. I'll need to get a second car next year and I want one that equals or beats the gas mileage of my current car (21/27).

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

This is encouraging. Automobiles w/o the stink. Cool. B)

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Right now most of the hydrogen comes from natural gas. Another source is electrolysis (running electricity through water). Hopefully the electricity comes from clean nuclear power and renewable resources. Not the dirty coal route.

[GaryC 7]

Right now most of the hydrogen comes from natural gas. Another source is electrolysis (running electricity through water). Hopefully the electricity comes from clean nuclear power and renewable resources. Not the dirty coal route.

It seems like a good solution to me. Park a nuke plant next to the ocean or large lake and make clean hydrogen.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well unlikely this will take off outside CA in the short-medium term anyway - as without a place to fill-up roadside there's only so far you can go from the recharging station in your house...

I don't know what they can do in Southern CA - they have all these environmental initiatives to reduce emissions, they have car-pool lanes, a (developing) metro-rail system - but the traffic and pollution seems to get worse and worse.

Good technical development - but I suspect it will be a while until it takes off, and at that price is likely to be a 'vanity car' for most.