Honda FCX Fuel Cell Vehicle: Production in 3-4 Years
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 03.17.06
Honda FCX Fuel Cell Car
The FCX, Honda's new fuel cell car, generated lots of enthusiasm and positive reactions each time we mentioned it (see links at the end of this post). With its elegant lines, low floor and cabin-forward design, it looks like that ever elusive "car of the future", and its drivetrain and home refuelling station are significant steps forward on the technological level (see technical details here). And now we learn that Honda has announced at the Detroit North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) that the FCX would begin production in Japan in three to four years. Jonathan Yarkony of the Canadian Auto Press has written an interesting piece on the Honda FCX. Most of it repeats what we've already said about the car here on Treehugger, but the description of his experience seeing the prototype at the NAIAS is interesting in an anecdotal sort of way.
Maybe it’s just how low and streamlined the shape of this car is, but it looks long, really long, until you get right next to it and realize it’s no longer than your average large sedan; but its profile makes it seem Lamborghini low - perhaps it is, I didn’t pull out my tape measure to tell you the truth. It’s shape is a definitive tear drop for the top profile, and is just about the most aerodynamic shape achievable for a car, with rear fender spoilers leading into a back deck that also looks like it might provide some extra downforce.The interior is also spacious, and pretty spacey, too, like it might be an interior set left over from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Clean, wide-open surfaces in light colours picked out with organic shapes and optical illusion floor surfaces, with cradling chairs and integrated unseen technology. One feature that blew me away when I saw it in action at the Detroit show was the nav system, which renders in full 3D, tilting down to street-level perspective for upcoming turns, then floating up overhead for long straights. Apologies to Honda’s show stand people who had to wipe down all the fogged up windows as I had my face pressed to the glass to get a better look. Another feature that stood out from the press release are sensors that detect eye movement to specific menu icons, and then activate the switches accordingly, for truly hands-free and silent operation of onboard functions.
I also really like the ‘living’ room they have the FCX parked in front in one of the press photos, with one chair, a stand-up CD player and stand-up speaker with a shiny reflective floor, bare white walls [the future, where white is the new colour], and a super-panoramic seamless window, outside of which is parked the FCX, right by its home hydrogen-generation refueling station.
Via: ::Hydrogen-Powered Honda FCX to go Into Production, ::Honda to Put Hydrogen FCX Concept into Production in 3–4 Years
Update: Our friends at WorldChanging have a very good post about the Honda FCX and fuel cell vehicles in general.
More on the Honda FCX fuel cell vehicle here on Treehugger: ::More Details on Honda's 2006 FCX Fuel Cell Car, ::New FCX Fuel Cell Concept by Honda, ::Honda's Improved Fuel Cell Concept Car Unveiled
Wow, what a beautiful car! And it's green, too? Simply amazing.
why wait? If you have about $100 K, Anuvu in California will turn your car into a fuel cell car. That's now, today, present time and at a lot less than what the car companies have been saying.
Anuvu kicks ass!
Anuvu kicks ass!
http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar_decathlon/final_results.html
I don't remember which of of these project houses it was, but one of them included an shed that used solar cells to create hydrogen that would be used to power the house (via fuel cell) at night and also to fill up your car. Image that. But where would that leave Exxon-Mobile?
Why wait? I think the "if you have 100k" part is a good enough reason for 99.9% of us.
whoa...that is evil-looking!
two diesels racing in the 12 hours of sebring today!
from 2:30 to 6:30 on the speed channel (new york)
the audi r10 and the biodiesel lola!
hope they kick ass!
My "why wait?" comment relates to the fact that all the big car companies have been saying for years, that fuel cell cars will cost over 1 million $,bla blabla...yet if you look around currently anuvu for example is doing it for far less. I personally don't have a spare 100K kicking around right now either...I guess the point I'm trying to make is to not wait for the companies who have quasi monopolies to make the changes but rather to support the smaller companies who are already doing it...and force the big guys to move faster, they have the means , they just don't want to give up any market share.
WOW.... Looks so....... CRAP....
personaly, and not to be an ass, but I think that car is a little ugly. it looks like a chrysler 300M, except it has less of a curve. they should have the people from Jeep or Dodge design a hydrogen car. I think SUV's are kind of goony, but that would make hydrogen sell. It would also would take away the wussy perception from environmental cars. The reason hybrids are suddenly doing well isn't so much awareness, but rather they are now available in SUV form.
Somebody, on the day that everybody agrees on car looks, the world will probably end. So you are completely entitled to your opinion.
Personally, I think it looks much better than the previous FCX model (which wasn't bad, but quite bland): have a look
"The reason hybrids are suddenly doing well isn't so much awareness, but rather they are now available in SUV form."
Well, the best-selling hybrids are still the Prius and Honda Civic...
The use of V-Flow Fuel Flow Stack is another point for the FCX.
I hope this car is tuneable and pimpable like the 03 civic... It has that edgy race car look
I have read that Honda will have limited production on the FCX in 2008.
What an amazing car!
Why wait you say?
Fueling infrastructure. There is a little bit in LA and SF, but right now it is not prevalent in SD or most areas around the state.
I hope my next car will be a Fuel Cell car, but if it's not practical I'll be forced to look to other options...
I am excited about the Honda Fuel Cell car. I own a Saturn Hybrid and I am pleased with it. The car gets between 29 and 30 mpg. I live in the country so all my driving is highway.
I look forward to the day when the fuel cell vehicles will be available for sale to the general public.