xcel
10-24-2007, 04:16 AM
November 2007 Los Angeles Autoshow – Honda will reveal what they believe is the future of the automobile. (www.cleanmpg.com)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Honda_FCX.jpgWayne Gerdes – CleanMPG (www.cleanmpg.com) – Oct. 24, 2007
In less than a month, Honda will make public an all-new and yet to be seen retail FCV (Fuel Cel Vehicle). Although much of North America, Asia and Europe lack the necessary FCV hydrogen refueling infrastructure, Honda is moving full steam ahead with what they believe to be the future of not just the car but transportation in its entirety.
Based on the FCX Concept (shown), the all-new FCV will be marketed to fleet and retail customers in both the U.S. and Japan beginning in 2008. The Honda FCV will provide all the creature comforts and safety most expect while the yet to be fully disclosed specifications of the Honda V Flow fuel cell stack will provide performance equivalent to most modern day sedans all the while producing zero emissions other than water and heat.
Hydrogen fueling stations are currently located in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Connecticut, New York and the Detroit area as seen in the Hydrogen refueling station list (http://www.fuelcells.org/info/charts/h2fuelingstations.pdf). In those areas, Honda can market the new FCV immediately. Besides retail hydrogen fueling stations, Honda has developed a Home Energy and Refueling station that provides hydrogen from natural gas for vehicle refueling, heat for domestic hot water use and electricity for the home. This is what will make the FCV extremely practical solution for many albeit still using a fossil fuel.
Currently, the first generation FCX is the only FCV legally certified in the US for the public to own and drive. With the upcoming FCV, what can we expect? A fully legal and luxury equipped mid-sized sedan with 0 - 60 performance of approximately 10 seconds, a range of at least 270 miles and the ability to operate in temperatures even lower than the current fuel cell stack’s record - 20 degrees C (- 4 degrees F).
Along with the new FCV’s advanced Fuel Cell Stack, FCV’s use a Li-Ion battery pack as a buffer to allow a higher power output than the stack can provide during maximum acceleration and for storing regenerative braking energy during decelerations for later use just as a hybrid electric vehicle does today.
MSRP and lease pricing has yet to be released but the IRS offers up to a $12,000 tax credit (http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=153397,00.html) for the purchase or lease of a certified Fuel Cell vehicle through 2014 (for those that will not be hit with AMT) as spelled out in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The first generation FCV qualified for the full $12,000 tax credit and there is no reason to believe the larger and more capable next generation Honda FCV would not be certified for the same. If the new FCV lease rate runs $600/month for 2-years, your net cost could be just $100/month. That is if your circumstances allow the entire $12,000 tax credit to be applied. This is a great deal to own the most advanced vehicle on the road if you can afford the initial $ outlay and if the FCV can be leased for that low a price?
Expect to see a very advanced and almost silent FCV driving down a road near you in the very near future.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Honda_FCX.jpgWayne Gerdes – CleanMPG (www.cleanmpg.com) – Oct. 24, 2007
In less than a month, Honda will make public an all-new and yet to be seen retail FCV (Fuel Cel Vehicle). Although much of North America, Asia and Europe lack the necessary FCV hydrogen refueling infrastructure, Honda is moving full steam ahead with what they believe to be the future of not just the car but transportation in its entirety.
Based on the FCX Concept (shown), the all-new FCV will be marketed to fleet and retail customers in both the U.S. and Japan beginning in 2008. The Honda FCV will provide all the creature comforts and safety most expect while the yet to be fully disclosed specifications of the Honda V Flow fuel cell stack will provide performance equivalent to most modern day sedans all the while producing zero emissions other than water and heat.
Hydrogen fueling stations are currently located in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Connecticut, New York and the Detroit area as seen in the Hydrogen refueling station list (http://www.fuelcells.org/info/charts/h2fuelingstations.pdf). In those areas, Honda can market the new FCV immediately. Besides retail hydrogen fueling stations, Honda has developed a Home Energy and Refueling station that provides hydrogen from natural gas for vehicle refueling, heat for domestic hot water use and electricity for the home. This is what will make the FCV extremely practical solution for many albeit still using a fossil fuel.
Currently, the first generation FCX is the only FCV legally certified in the US for the public to own and drive. With the upcoming FCV, what can we expect? A fully legal and luxury equipped mid-sized sedan with 0 - 60 performance of approximately 10 seconds, a range of at least 270 miles and the ability to operate in temperatures even lower than the current fuel cell stack’s record - 20 degrees C (- 4 degrees F).
Along with the new FCV’s advanced Fuel Cell Stack, FCV’s use a Li-Ion battery pack as a buffer to allow a higher power output than the stack can provide during maximum acceleration and for storing regenerative braking energy during decelerations for later use just as a hybrid electric vehicle does today.
MSRP and lease pricing has yet to be released but the IRS offers up to a $12,000 tax credit (http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=153397,00.html) for the purchase or lease of a certified Fuel Cell vehicle through 2014 (for those that will not be hit with AMT) as spelled out in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The first generation FCV qualified for the full $12,000 tax credit and there is no reason to believe the larger and more capable next generation Honda FCV would not be certified for the same. If the new FCV lease rate runs $600/month for 2-years, your net cost could be just $100/month. That is if your circumstances allow the entire $12,000 tax credit to be applied. This is a great deal to own the most advanced vehicle on the road if you can afford the initial $ outlay and if the FCV can be leased for that low a price?
Expect to see a very advanced and almost silent FCV driving down a road near you in the very near future.