LA MOTOR SHOW: Honda fuel cell car debuts
Honda has amped up the futuristic styling in its preview of fuel cell futureHonda’s FCEV Concept was one of the ‘green tech’ stars of the Los Angeles Auto Show opening day.
Indeed, in a show that seemed to lack a consistent theme, neither green, nor performance, the Honda concept was arguably the most futuristically styled car to face the press.
Officially, Honda says the FCEV (Fuel cell Electric Vehicle) "expresses a potential styling direction for Honda's next-generation fuel-cell vehicle anticipated to launch in the US and Japan in 2015". Unofficially it’s the replacement for the 2008 FCX Clarity.
The FCEV features spaceship looks but ironically is more conventionally packaged than its predecessor. Seating for five is provided and the fuel cell and electrical and mechanical equipment is all packaged in the area a conventional IC engine would be located.
In the FCV the fuel cell was located in the centre of the car, with attendant packaging woes.
"The Honda FCEV Concept hints at Honda's future direction for fuel-cell vehicles," said Tetsuo Iwamura, president and CEO of American Honda.
"While this car is a concept, it points toward a very real future," he said.
Honda reckons "significant technological advancements" to the fuel-cell stack have yielded an increase in output to more than 100kW.
"The power density is now 3kW/L, an increase of 60 per cent, with the stack size reduced 33 per cent compared to the FCX Clarity," says Honda.
"The next generation Honda FCEV is anticipated to deliver a driving range of more than 300 miles with a quick refueling time of about three minutes at a pressure of 70 MPa."
Honda is also suggests FCEV will demonstrate a significant reduction in the cost of fuel cell construction. The system is also now less temperature sensitive allowing the FCEV to operate efficiently in the same sort of temperature range as an IC car.
Earlier this year (July 2013), Honda entered into "a long-term collaborative agreement" with General Motors to "co-develop the next-generation of fuel-cell systems and hydrogen storage technologies, aiming for the 2020 timeframe".
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