Currently reading: Honda FCV Clarity could arrive in the UK this year

Hydrogen-powered FCX successor to go on sale in Japan and the US this Spring. It's coming to the UK later, but in limited numbers

The Honda FCV Clarity will be demonstrated at the New York motor show this week, as Honda readies the production-ready fuel cell car to go on sale in Japan and the US this Spring.

The Japanese manufacturer has confirmed that sales of the hydrogen fuel cell-powered car are also planned in Europe, but sales in the UK aren't scheduled to start until the end of this year at earliest. Production numbers will also be limited here.

Read our first drive review of the Honda FCV Clarity

The successor to Honda's first Hydrogen fuel cell-powered model, the FCX Clarity, the FCV was last seen as an early-stage concept at the 2013 LA motor show. A second prototype model was then unveiled in Japan last year.

Honda clarity fcv 03

Drive for the FCV comes from an electric motor which is capable of providing more than 134bhp, while power density has been increased by 60% over that of the FCX. The fuel stack size has also been reduced by 33%. 

Honda has previously claimed the FCV is the first car of its type to feature the entire fuel cell powertrain packaged within the engine bay.

Last year the firm said the FCV will provide a driving range of 435 miles, though in its latest New York release, gives a slightly more cautious promise of a plus 300-mile range. The carmaker also says the FCV can be refuelled with hydrogen in under five minutes - previous statements pulled the estimate closer to three minutes.

In Japanese specification, the FCV is capable of supplying electricity to homes to act as an emergency generator. Japanese and US-spec FCVs will also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and Honda Sensing technology, which includes auto-braking functions and lane-departure warning, as well as adaptive cruise control. We expect a similar specification to feature on UK-bound cars.

Honda clarity fcv 01

Pricing for the US market is expected to be around $60,000, which equates to about £41,700. A monthly lease price of under $500 (or £347) has also reportedly been targeted.

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Honda opened its own hydrogen filling station in Swindon in 2014. The solar-powered facility is capable of producing 20 tons of hydrogen per year, and is aimed at kick-starting an infrastructure for hydrogen-powered cars in this country, as part of the government's UKH2Mobility scheme.

The FCV will face competition from the Toyota Mirai, as well as Hyundai's hydrogen-powered ix35.

Darren Moss and Sam Sheehan

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mpls 22 March 2016

Strictly speaking BMWs 7

Strictly speaking BMWs 7 series Hydrogen burnt the Hydrogen like a normal internal combustion engine. Therefore Honda in 1999 were the first to release a hydogen fuel cell vehicle in 1999.
xxxx 22 March 2016

Strictly spoken

mpls wrote:

Strictly speaking BMWs 7 series Hydrogen burnt the Hydrogen like a normal internal combustion engine. Therefore Honda in 1999 were the first to release a hydogen fuel cell vehicle in 1999.

I know, that's why I put " BMW build around 200 hydrogen powered cars ". I didn't say BMW were the first either.

mpls 22 March 2016

how much were hybrid cars

how much were hybrid cars when they were first sold ? how nuch are they now and how accessable they are ?

could not hydrogen go the same way..

xxxx 22 March 2016

not much more and very accessable?

mpls wrote:

how much were hybrid cars when they were first sold ? how nuch are they now and how accessable they are ?

could not hydrogen go the same way..

Not sure exactly sure how much the Prius was but I think it was around £5,000 more not £30,000 in the case of Hydrogen cars.
BMW build around 200 hydrogen powered cars in 2007, nearly 10 years ago, and although it was only an adapted 7 series they didn't follow it up. However since then they've put into production 1 EV and about 5 plug-ins, all of which are still in production. Funny thing is the only thing that might save the Hydrogen car is if they put a bigger battery in it and a plug on it, lets hope they don't think of it.

mpls 21 March 2016

For the benefit of some, i

For the benefit of some, i just looked t the US website and found the Toyota Mirai MPG showing as US 67MPG equating to UK MOG as around 80MPG.
xxxx 21 March 2016

yep

mpls wrote:

For the benefit of some, i just looked t the US website and found the Toyota Mirai MPG showing as US 67MPG equating to UK MOG as around 80MPG.

A kilo of Hydrogen cost's £6.60 in Europe, enough for around 55 miles in the slow ix35, so it cost the same to run as diesel but £40,000 more to buy.