Honda FCX Clarity Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car

By: Mary Smith
Staff Writer
Published: Oct 13, 2009

FCX Information - Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology For Honda Clarity

There's been a lot of talk about the Honda Clarity lately, and this is one car that is taking hydrogen fuel cell technology to the next level. Honda Clarity is 20 percent more fuel efficient and has a powertrain that is 45 percent more compact. Overall, the vehicle is 10 percent energy efficient.

Cars that use hydrogen might be a few years ahead of its time. There have been a few safety concerns over the use of fuel cell technology in vehicles, but Honda has provided a better solution by installing several measures. For example, Honda has placed sensors located throughout the FCX Clarity to provide a warning in the event of a hydrogen leak. Should such a leak occur, the ventilation system is activated where it automatically closes the main valves leading to the hydrogen tank.

Honda FCX Clarity is so new, that most people don't understand how the car can safely burn clean fuel. This vehicle simply uses hydrogen as an alternative fuel to gasoline. In fact, it could offer consumers up to 74 MPG (miles per gallon). It burns cleaner and only emits water vapor into the air, making it one of the best eco-friendly automobiles.

Hydrogen fuel isn't a new technology to power vehicles. Hydrogen is also used in buses in metropolitan areas to help reduce emissions. However, the Honda fuel cell automobile has taken the technology to another level by generating electricity by a fuel cell stack. This is the method for using hydrogen to create electricity to power the car.

Fuel cell stacks power the Honda FCX. This motor, known as the Honda E-Drive system, burns clean and reduces the amount of CO2 being released in the atmosphere. The compact coaxial motor is quieter and can run at a higher RPM.

For energy efficiency and speed, the hydrogen automobile uses a lithium-ion battery pack that captures lost energy during deceleration and braking. The battery is lightweight and smaller than traditional hybrid cars. It is located under the rear seat of the car so that trunk space is available at full capacity.

The Honda Clarity hydrogen car is equipped with several new breakthrough technologies. One of them is called the V-Flow (Vertical Flow) fuel cell stack. This is a smaller design allowing for better efficiency to provide room for more passengers in the vehicle. V-Flow also allows higher cell voltage stability and reduces the amount of heat generated.

The V-Flow stack also plays a role in the powertrain for the Clarity. It provides the motor and powertrain components with 30 percent vehicle efficiency. The fuel cell powertrain also has noise reduction measures that help the car run quieter.

While hydrogen vehicles have been used before, this is a new idea for the mainstream consumer. It will only be a matter of time before we know exactly if hydrogen fuel cell powered-cars is a good idea. If that happens, the Honda Clarity will provide consumers with better mileage and cleaner air.