Car launches: Honda highlights fuel cell vehicle’s range ahead of March release

Car launches: Honda highlights fuel cell vehicle's range ahead of March release

TOKYO — Honda Motor‘s first production-ready fuel cell vehicle, boasting a cruising range of over 700km on a full tank, stood out among the host of rollouts the company previewed Wednesday.

     The automaker will unveil the hydrogen-powered sedan at the Tokyo Motor Show coming up at the end of October. The car’s driving distance beats the 650km touted by Toyota Motor‘s Mirai, the latest fuel cell vehicle to be released. It takes about three minutes to refuel the five-person car, which provides more space than the Mirai.

     The vehicle comes equipped with a scaled-down power generation system and fuel cells located under the hood. Honda is expected to call it the Clarity, the same name as the first-generation fuel cell vehicle the carmaker started leasing in Japan and the U.S. in 2008.

     The company estimates the price tag will be in the 7 million yen range ($57,870), rivaling that of the Mirai. Orders for the Mirai likely topped 3,000 units as of the end of August. Honda’s offering, which will hit the market next March, may help boost the popularity of fuel cell vehicles.

     Tokyo-based Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting predicts the Japanese fuel cell vehicle market will hit 50,000 vehicles by 2020. Not only will the diffusion lead to more hydrogen stations being built, a boon for infrastructure projects, but raw materials makers are also expected to reap benefits. Deloitte Tohmatsu estimates an economic ripple effect of 770 billion yen in 2020.

     Honda also announced it will launch the new NSX luxury sports car in the North American market next spring. The NSX will make a comeback after Honda ended production in 2005. The lightweight body is made from aluminum and carbon fibers, and the vehicle will feature a new hybrid system that combines three motors. Each front wheel is driven by its own motor, enhancing drivability.

     Honda will also launch the European-produced Civic Type R high-performance car in the Japanese market this fall. The company has not sold a Civic model in Japan for five years. The vehicle’s turbocharged engine cranks out 310 horsepower.

     In addition, the car company will reveal concept vehicles incorporating the latest technology at the Tokyo Motor Show. The Honda Wander Stand, which fits two people, has special omnidirectional tires and a self-driving option. The Honda Wonder Walker, designed for one person, can make tight turns enabling it to move with pedestrians. It comes equipped with a wireless communication system so that family members can keep tabs on location when used by the elderly.

(Nikkei)

Car launches: Honda highlights fuel cell vehicle's range ahead of March release