Honda to let individuals test FCX in 2008; plans cheaper hybrid in 2009
Click photo for Autoblog Green's FCX test drive.
At a demonstration of its FCX fuel cell concept in Los Angeles, Thursday, Honda confirmed what we reported in December: that they will have a limited number of FCXs on the ground for real-world testing in 2008. USA Today says Honda currently already has two FCX models leased to individuals for $500 month, but the company will add more next year. Honda claims the car gets the hydrogen equivalent of 68 mpg. For our money, we'll wait for the Sportwagen.
At the same event, Honda officials said they were also planning to sell a sub-$25k hybrid within two years to slot below the current Civic hybrid. They said the budget hybrid wouldn't look like other Hondas, claiming current Civic hybrid's sales were outnumbered by the uniquely-designed Prius.
Read about Autoblog Green's November test drive of the FCX here.
[Source: USA Today]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Aetius 9:54AM (5/11/2007)
I'm really intrigued by the fuel-cell technology that Honda is working on. And I'm a person who thinks hybrids are a joke.
Hydrogen is the true next-gen green fuel source. Hats off to Honda (and the other companies who are also focusing on Hydrogen) for realizing that!
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bob 10:02AM (5/11/2007)
I think hydrogen is intriguing but I still don't think it will ever pan out. Infrastructure is still a huge problem to overcome.
One thing many people aren't aware of is that HONDA is still doing a ton of R&D on good ol gas engines. The company CEO has stated that they still a lot more they can do with gas engines to make them more efficient. And watch out for diesel engines. They will make a strong showing in 2009/10. I think diesel will end up bursting the hybrid's bubble or at least formulating a turn to diesel/hybrid.
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Mike 10:08AM (5/11/2007)
"They said the budget hybrid wouldn't look like other Hondas, claiming current Civic hybrid's sales were outnumbered by the uniquely-designed Prius."
Because a hybrid just isn't a hybrid unless you can show the world your absolute moral authority, proving to everyone that your worldview is better and you know it.
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nilk 10:42AM (5/11/2007)
Honda should make a hatchback/wagon version of the Honda Civic Hybrid. One of the reasons the Prius does so well is because its a very spacious hatchback and the battery placement problem is much less of an issue than it is in a sedan. The Hybrid Civic's small trunk with no passthrough is way to much of a con for me or anyone who values cargo space to buy it. If they did make a hatchback Civic Hybrid, it would be at the top of my list for my next vehicle purchase.
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Steven T. 10:57AM (5/11/2007)
I like nilk's explanation better than Mike's as to why the Prius has outsold the Civic hybrid. I wish Honda would offer more versatile packaging in a Civic-sized car -- hybrid or not. Honda was short sighted when it abandoned the Civic tall wagons of the early 1990s.
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qwityerbitchin 11:02AM (5/11/2007)
Ford has been testing Hydrogen for years.
They use that technology on a fleet of buses. Those are individuals too, just on a larger scale than Honda.
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Jeff Gilleran 11:16AM (5/11/2007)
In a sense Steve, they still do make the spirit of the Wagovans.
The "fit" being closest, and the "CRV". being the 4wd alternative although leaning more toward the truck side of things.
I agree though, the Civic hybrid is lacking practicality in an area I dont think it should be.
I personally like having grocery space and the ability to haul the occasional "oddity" that all of us have to stuff in a vehicle at a seconds notice.
Having no pass through kinda sucks.
The Civic Hybrid is not by any means a "horrible" car, but no pass through would bother me personally.
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Anthony 11:58AM (5/11/2007)
I agree with Nilk.
For us the decision to by the Prius over the Civic came down to the hatchback and roomy interior. We really loved the Civic style and dash and would have purchased it in an instant if it were a hatchback or wagon. The rear seats in the Civic sedan will not even fold down, talk about limiting your cargo capabilities. I don't think Honda has to "ugly up" their hybrid to get sales. Just make it more practicle and usable. Throw in some sportiness for good measure.
I like the Prius much more then I thougt I would. It has been 10 times more reliabile then our Saab 9-3 SportCombi, rides smoother and quiter. It is really borning to drive and I have learned to live with that. It looks like an egg timer and that is my biggest beef with the car. I guess I can live with ugly since we use it as an appliance to commute to and from work anyway. I plan to buy a fun weekend/evening car next year.
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Daniel 12:48PM (5/11/2007)
Skip the BS fuel cell and put a small Diesel APU in it and bring it to market!
It took 100 years and today’s equivalent of a couple trillion dollars to build out the U.S. automotive fueling infrastructure. That can not be replaced by hydrogen fuel stations in anyone’s lifetime.
The bridge fuel must be a BioDiesel blend in full plug-in series drive hybrids that get better than 100 MPG. That will get our children's grand children to a hydrogen based economy.
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EvenSteven 2:48PM (5/11/2007)
How does buying a Prius to commute and then buy a weekend/evening car make any sense at all. If you bought your car to be "GREEN" you just counter acted any good you had planned..better buy some offsets. If you purchased the hybrid to save money you just lost that savings as well (payment, gas, insurance, maint, etc.). If you bought the hybrid to be a green "POSER" you have succeded and given credence to the earlier post.
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Eric 9:29PM (5/11/2007)
EvenSteven,
If Anthony's intention was to reduce his fuel use while still having a nice-driving car for the weekends, then he likely succeeded. His average mileage will be the average of the two vehicles, and it's very likely it will be much higher with the Prius.
This is pretty basic. Rather than posting silly comments like this during your remedial math classes, you should pay attention.
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redpillbluepill 3:27PM (5/11/2007)
"Because a hybrid just isn't a hybrid unless you can show the world your absolute moral authority, proving to everyone that your worldview is better and you know it"
Yeah! When I drive my SUV with no other passengers to work every day, I love the message that sends. I agree with you, I'm frequently angered by those who drive the obvious looking hybrid cars. They must be trying to say they are better than me! It's like they are saying "I bought a car that gets good gas mileage and has drastically lower pollution." What an awful thing to point out to me. Brings up all this guilt in side that I can't face, so I get really mad!
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Mike 3:33PM (5/11/2007)
"Yeah! When I drive my SUV with no other passengers to work every day, I love the message that sends. I agree with you, I'm frequently angered by those who drive the obvious looking hybrid cars. They must be trying to say they are better than me! It's like they are saying "I bought a car that gets good gas mileage and has drastically lower pollution." What an awful thing to point out to me. Brings up all this guilt in side that I can't face, so I get really mad!"
If only Toyota would produce a vehicle that runs on cognitive dissonance...
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redpillbluepill 3:46PM (5/11/2007)
"If only Toyota would produce a vehicle that runs on cognitive dissonance..."
Or perhaps one that runs on psychological projection.
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captainOface 6:19PM (5/11/2007)
Who cares if people buy a Prius for a fashion/political statement? Cars have always been bought for this reason, here are some examples:
Hummer: Small Weenie Guy
Corvette: Middle Aged Swinger with a penchant for gold chains Guy. "How you doin?"
Vanagon: Dirty Hippie Guy
Mini Cooper: Metro Trendy Guy with a rainbow sticker
Honda Civic Si with big ass wing: Boy Racer Dork
BMW:I think Im better than you and want you to know it guy
Mustang/Camaro: Molly Hatchet Rocks guy. "Check out this tire mark!"
Honda Accord: Sensible Boring Family Guy. "I only purchase a car Consumer Reports Likes"
Chevy Impala (new one): Sales Guy
Jeep Wrangler: Outdoorsy Guy but not enviro nazi. "I like to be outside and drive over things in nature."
Toyota Camry: Boring Guy "I really dont like this car but its so sensible how could I not buy it?"
So yes Prius owners "may" choose to buy a Prius over normal looking Hybrids for the imgae factor....but so what it makes them feel better. Its the same reason the ipod outsells all other MP3 players 3 to 1...Image is important.
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antrow 7:56PM (5/11/2007)
Even Steven,
Dude, I have no clue what logic you are using in your comments. Your making allot of assumptions when you said:
...................................................
"How does buying a Prius to commute and then buy a weekend/evening car make any sense at all. If you bought your car to be "GREEN" you just counter acted any good you had planned..better buy some offsets. If you purchased the hybrid to save money you just lost that savings as well (payment, gas, insurance, maint, etc.). If you bought the hybrid to be a green "POSER" you have succeded and given credence to the earlier post."
....................................................
First off, we traded in an SUV to get the Prius as a commuter car. Two of us ride in Northern Virginia stop and go traffic to work everyday in the Prius on a 30 mile commute. We don't pay personal property taxes becuase it is a hybrid, we get to use HOV lanes and our insurance cost went down on top of the gas savings.
I could not give a rats bum about "posing" as a green person. By carpooling in the Prius we have taken on SUV and a Saab of the road in favor of a "green" ride for many reasons.
If I want to drive a fun car in the evenings and weekends who cares? Does that take away from the good we do all week when we drive the most and the longest? We still doing more the someone who sits in an SUV by themselves in stopped traffic for an hour to and from work each day. Plus, who said my fun car would be a Hummer??????
Dude, you are an Angry Anti-Green that is bashing for no reason. Get a grip dude....
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Barney 12:49AM (5/12/2007)
Re:6. Ford has been testing Hydrogen for years.
They and a few other automakers contribute to "Ballard" in Burnaby, B.C. Ballard is doing extensive research on the hydrogen cell. No manufacturer can afford to do the research on their own.
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EvenSteven 11:48PM (5/15/2007)
Ok sorry to offend with the Prius comments. I actually like the Prius. I misunderstood and made some incorrect assumptions. It sounded like you took 1 9-3 (not that bad on gas) off the road to get 2 cars, the Prius and a fun car (I never said a Hummer but most fun cars dont have great fuel econonomy). You have to admit, "if" that were the case it would not make much sense. Replacing 2 cars with 2 cars is a totally different story. I guess you are saving some gas but your other reasons are much more pragmatic and make sense. For the reasons you gave...Im surprised anyone buys anything but Hybrids in NoVa. The property tax thing is huge. How lame is Virginia that you pay property tax on your car?
By the way Im not a green hater...but I do hate hypocracy and many (not all) green folks fall into this trap (usually celebs).
As far as I am concerned anyone can drive whatever they want, be it a Hummer or a Smart car. I just hate when the green guy wants to legislate his ideas on others or even worse, support taxes to force the market. Let the market take care of itself, the auto industry will build to the market. High gas prices will get more people to drive more fuel efficiant cars (consumers will make decisions like you did) and thus the car companies will build more. We are seeing this now with the switch from SUVs to CUVs and Hybrids. But hey..if some schmuck wants to pay 90 bucks to fill his Hummer...more power to him it's his dime.
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Barney 4:35PM (5/13/2007)
"you can show the world your absolute moral authority,.."
It also could be that if you spend the money on a hybrid, you want it to look like a hybrid rather then a car modified to be a hybrid. Loud exhausts on a V8 indicated what was under the hood and now the world is changed in the excepted bragging right. Few people want to brag about how much fuel they burn.
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elylrc 5:27PM (5/15/2007)
Does anybody recall what happened at Lakehurst, New Jersey in 1937 or the Challenger in 1986. Now we have Hydrogen stored, not at atmospheric pressure, but at 350 times, or 5000 psig. I wonder what that would look like in a rear end collision ??
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