2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell Overview. The Clarity Fuel Cell is Honda’s second attempt at a mass-produced FCV. Its first, the FCX Clarity, was available from 2008 to 2014
2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell Overview
For 2017, Honda gives us the Clarity—one car platform powered by
three very different fuel types. The Clarity midsize sedan is the first
car in the world to be offered as either a plug-in hybrid, battery
electric, or hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle (FCV). This flexibility is
possible thanks to its modular design and electric motor. No matter
which fuel source you choose—batteries, a small gasoline engine paired
with batteries, or a hydrogen-powered fuel cell—each version is
essentially the same car.
The first Clarity to hit the market will be the Clarity Fuel Cell. It
features a 174-hp electric motor powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, which
combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity.
The Clarity Fuel Cell is Honda’s second attempt at a mass-produced
FCV. Its first, the FCX Clarity, was available from 2008 to 2014. As
with the FCX Clarity, the new Clarity Fuel Cell will be available only
via lease to customers in California who live or work within 10 miles of
a hydrogen fueling station, with pricing starting at around $400 per
month. Thanks to the new fuel-cell design that’s one-third smaller but
60 percent more powerful than the old FCX Clarity’s, the Clarity Fuel
Cell can seat up to 5 passengers. Drivers can expect a range of 300
miles between fill-ups.
Although the Clarity Fuel Cell will undoubtedly get the most press,
Honda expects the plug-in hybrid Clarity to be the best seller. The
plug-in hybrid will be available in all 50 states and boasts a 40-mile
all-electric range in addition to unlimited mileage from the gasoline
engine. The all-electric Clarity will be sold alongside the hybrid and
fuel-cell variants and is expected to hit U.S. markets in the summer of
2017.
The Clarity Fuel Cell will be fitted with what Honda calls “premium,
environmentally-responsible materials.” The Display Audio infotainment
system is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and the center
console features a push-button shifter like that in the Acura TLX. The
Clarity comes outfitted with LED head- and taillights, a head-up
display, and soft-touch upholstery. The Honda Sensing active-safety
suite is standard and includes lane-departure warning,
collision-mitigating braking, and forward-collision warning.
