Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Japan, Honda
Honda's new fuel cell car due in 2008
Honda recently demostrated its FCX Concept fuel cell vehicle to journalists at its reseach facility north of Tokyo, in which the FCX quietly moved at around 100 MPH on their test track. The futuristic FCX Concept is targeted for limited sale in the U.S. and Japan in 2008, according to Honda. The car uses a new fuel cell stack that can fit between the driver and passenger, instead of taking up space under the floor. The smaller size fuel cell stack is also more powerful than the previous one, while only weighing 148 pounds.
The FCX Concept is not exactly new, but this is the first we've heard of any definite plans to introduce a fuel cell vehicle to the U.S. with a specific design. Based on what we've heard before, the FCX will probably be sold at a premium price that may only be within reach of wealthy early adopters (i.e. celebrities).
[Source: Yahoo News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Bill 8:10AM (9/25/2006)
Wake up GM & Ford
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Hank 9:11AM (9/25/2006)
You mean wake up Dodge. Their lawyers need to file suit over the theft of the defunct 2002 Dodge Intrepid design.
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JW 9:13AM (9/25/2006)
Let me predict it right now. If this story was about GM and the Sequel, people would bash them and say they were dumb to bring it out when there are not any re-fueling stations. But since this is a Honda, my guess is people will gush all over this, praise Honda for being innovative and bash GM for being late to the party.
Have they even announced whether this thing can go 300 miles on a refill, like the Sequel can? Doing something is one thing. Doing it right is another.
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JZeke 9:22AM (9/25/2006)
Could the FCX be the new paradigm in supercars?
By definition a Supercar has the performance, the panache and the exclusivity to catapult over everything else.
The GM Sequel I applaud for its adherence to function, perhaps a little too much over form. But it is smart, and it will attract many pragmatic buyers.
The Honda however is a new breed of supercar. The proportion is radical, the lines are reminiscent of Giugaro concepts from the 1970s, and the detailing is exotic.
I'm not so shallow as to knock GM, which brings MANY good things to the fuel cell party. The Honda however tickles my right brain pleasure centers.
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EGS 9:34AM (9/25/2006)
why does the face of the car have to change to accomodate the new power plant? seems ridiculous to sell a body, a chassis and a power palnt at the same time. though i understand the cost savings, how about some focus, instead of some "fu
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BLS 9:36AM (9/25/2006)
How little is that dude? Or is it a huge car.
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The other Bob 9:38AM (9/25/2006)
I like the fact that Honda is selling this thing at a premium, instead of subsidizing it like the Prius. The Prius is not only subsidized by government tax credits, but also Toyota, who has been shown to lose money on each copy. The EV1 was subsidized by GM, probably losing the company $50,000 per copy. There is little doubt other hybrids are the same.
The reason I like the fact they are selling them closer to real cost is because it will show how few enviros are willing to pay to drive a high-tech, environmentally friendly car when someone else isn't footing the bill for it.
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JZeke 9:44AM (9/25/2006)
Its a new paradigm in cars.
Oi, Honda is changing everything because Fuel Cells give us all that freedom. What would be the point to make yet one more 3-box design when the car has no engine to speak of?
The beauty of fuel cells is that there is no centralized power plant any more. Instead there is a network of components which can be placed where they are needed.
Honda is selling all these components holistically because they HAVE focus. Being unfocussed would lead to something half-assed and crappy, with a shelf life of a few minutes. Why would anyone want that?
What would be ridiculous is putting this new breed of power plant in a 1939 Benz 540k. But I bet alot of people would find it easier to stomach.
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ron 10:01AM (9/25/2006)
Good for Honda! Someone has to lead the way, and if it's a foreign/transplant, so be it! I'm certain that as I sit her typing, GM and FORD are feverishly working away on improvements (real or otherwise) on their respective offerings of SUV's and pickem-up trucks!
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Jon Belanger 10:02AM (9/25/2006)
#3 (JW):
According to Honda, the FCX has a range of 570 km (355 miles). So... yes, it's actually better than the Sequel.
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christopher 10:10AM (9/25/2006)
I love Honda... they were the first to sell a hybrid and now they are bringing the first fuel cell car to the market. Awesome!
Honda is taking the same strategy as Tesla Motors... roll out a supercar with a super-advanced technology and sell it in limited numbers. Eventually, economies of scale will catch-up and the technology will be available to everyone. It's a brilliant strategy and it will probably sell extremely well.
I thought the Sequel was a great idea, but the problem is that GM treats it as purely a public relations move and not a viable technology to be sold to real customers. Hopefully GM will pull it's head out of its ass and seriously think about translating words into real, bonified action.
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no5 10:23AM (9/25/2006)
he's tiny. look at the pants.
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Scott 10:25AM (9/25/2006)
#9 ron, did you miss the sequel announcement a few days ago? GM hasn't been sitting on their butts. the difference is, their fuel cell vehicle is going to be priced within the means of the ordinary consumer. sure, the honda is available a couple years earlier, but it's going to be something only the rich can own. give some credit where it's due!
And before i'm accused of doing the same, nicely done honda. not sure it's quite my cup of tea, but kudos to anyone dedicated to putting fuel cell vehicles on the road.
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Matt Keegan 10:36AM (9/25/2006)
Sigourney Weaver must be pissed. The car looks like the aliens she came to know, love, and despise in the Alien series. Just add teeth, drool, and a second tiny head and you got it.
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PuffyC 10:37AM (9/25/2006)
GM has already announced their fuel cell vehicle and they be available beginning sometime in 2007 when they begin building the world's largest fuel cell fleet.
I guess when you're a dedicated anti-American car fanatic you're blind to everything that doesn't support your worldview.
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Leo 11:19AM (9/25/2006)
seems liek GM and Honda will be leading us donw this fuel cell strategy
good for both of them, I hope they can find a way to make them mainstream
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Cosmo Kramer 11:39AM (9/25/2006)
Wake up GM and Ford? Maybe you mean Ford. GM has a fuel cell car project, if I am not mistaken. But, this is a wake up call for the rest of the car manufacturers. I believe Honda is a sleeping giant. With their advances in engine technology, I believe they will revolutionize diesel, hybrid, fuel cell, and GAS engines yet again. If you think Toyota is a powerhouse, just wait for Honda to R&D to come to fruition.
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Richard Warren 12:31PM (9/25/2006)
Honda has always been innovative when it comes to emisssions control. Good for them.
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Gil 12:43PM (9/25/2006)
Christopher, Toyota was the first to sell a hybrid, a full hybrid at that which is something Honda has not being able to achieve yet, in 1997 (the original Prius sold in Japan). Honda sold the first "hybrid" in the US, which was the "mild hybrid" insight. Honda has always been clever in marketing, so they rushed a simple mild hybrid to market in the US to make them seem like they invented hybrids in the eyes of US consumers.
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Gil 12:43PM (9/25/2006)
Cosmo, I agree with you on some points. But Toyota is a much larger powerhouse than Honda when it comes to R&D. I predict that just as they have a better hybrid system than Honda (Honda has yet to produce a full hybrid) they will have a better fuel cell system than Honda as well.
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