Honda rolls out new zero-emission car

[WishIhadatruck]

For being approx. the same shape as the Prius it is MUCH better looking. I'd drive one for, no problem. I don't plan to have a $600 lease though.

[joemac]

Originally Posted by genjy

Is it just me or is that Honda FCX Clarity a really good looking car?

It's got to be a you thing. Last night I skinned a potato that I think had a more attractive shape than that thing.

[D C]

Originally Posted by Saturn69

1-2 years? The FCX Clarity was announced last year, about 6-7 months ago actually. It's news because the first car was available for the customer.

It's news because there's a Japan-based AP writer spewing Honda propoganda to make it look like Honda is doing something new here. GM has had customers driving Fuel Cell vehicles for months now.

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by D C

It's news because there's a Japan-based AP writer spewing Honda propoganda to make it look like Honda is doing something new here. GM has had customers driving Fuel Cell vehicles for months now.

I know, I posted about that earlier. I said it was news simply because the first cars are being delivered, not because Honda was 6-7 months late to the game. I wasn't discussing the reporter's spin or lack of investigative skill, I was simply saying to someone why it was considered news and worthy of our discussion.

[MisterMe]

Originally Posted by DemonKnightDK

if emits water, iirc I read that adding more water to the atmospher will actually cause more global warming that any other green house gas... for proof of the effect moisture has on temp, come to any state that hits close 90 Degrees and has 80-100% humidity... ends up feeling like 120*... I dont want to live in a rain forrest sorry to say.

You obviously have never studied chemistry. The combustion products of hydrocarbons are carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). Burning octane (C8H18) produces 12.5% more H2O by volume than CO2:

2C8H18 + 25O2 —> 16CO2 + 18H2O

The rule of thumb is that you get one gallon of water for every gallon of gasoline burned.

If you burn hydrogen, then you get only water. However, hydrogen fuel cells are supposedly much more efficient that gasoline engines, which means that they produce much more useful work for a given amount of water generated. Furthermore, water is much easier for Mother Nature to handle than CO2. If there is too much water in the atmosphere, then it rains or condenses out as dew. If there is too much CO2, then the only way to get rid of it is for green plants to convert it to sugar.

The other thing that you seem to ignore is that the hydrogen used in fuel cells will likely produced by decomposing water molecules. When hydrogen is burned, it is restored to its original state as part of a water molecule. On the other hand, the water created by burning hydrocarbons is new water.

[skylark68]

I just love this quote:

"It's so smooth," said Harris, who played villainness Marie Warner on the hit TV show "24" and was flown over by Honda for the ceremony. "It's like a future machine, but it's not."

It's like OMG, I love this Honda. It's like driving a real car, but it's not!

[jeep2c]

Do you really think any of these actors/actresses are going to drive these cars?

[minnfang]

Originally Posted by genjy

Is it just me or is that Honda FCX Clarity a really good looking car?

It's you, but it's not me. The Clarity has some nice styling elements, but overall I find it kind of awkward.

I know I'll get flamed for this, but I think the Prius isn't all that bad. It would be even better if the wheels and wheelwells didn't seem so small.

[CBECK]

It's good to see an article about Honda that mentions General Motors. Usually it's a bad article about GM and pro-import.

[sigma]

Would someone please go wake up GM's PR department? There is no reason that Project Driveway isn't prominently featured in this story. They need to be much more proactive about engaging the press, especially the non-enthusiast press (like the NYT, AP, etc) if they are going to start turning around public perceptions about the General.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by Saturn69

GM was 'at bat' before Honda, with the Project Driveway Equinoxes. And they aren't just in SoCal, they're in New York and D.C. as well, and GM pays for everything, including fuel.

"Families will have vehicles for three months and won't be charged for the use of the vehicles or the fuel but will have to provide feedback on their experiences. This will be the largest field test of fuel cell vehicles ever done and lessons learned from it will be applied to the development of the fuel cell version of the Chevy Volt."

Sure, it's only 3 months, but GM isn't charging you $600 a month to provide real-world test data for them like Honda is, nor are they making you pay for the fuel like Honda does. These hit the streets last year.

Yup.

Originally Posted by skylark68

I just love this quote:

"It's so smooth," said Harris, who played villainness Marie Warner on the hit TV show "24" and was flown over by Honda for the ceremony. "It's like a future machine, but it's not."

It's like OMG, I love this Honda. It's like driving a real car, but it's not!

[AMERICA 123]

Originally Posted by benroethig

Its an operation test, but a good idea. We're still at least a decade or more from being practical, but you have to start somewhere.

YEP.

I wish GM's hydrogen programs got more attention - in fact everybody elses as well.

[tkrelston]

http://www.hydrogencarsnow.com/gm-electrovan.htm

Well, Honda is just 42 years late...

[hondaguy]

FYI - water is neither created nor destroyed it just changes form throughout its cycle in the atmosphere

[genjy]

Originally Posted by tkrelston

http://www.hydrogencarsnow.com/gm-electrovan.htm

Well, Honda is just 42 years late...

Concepts are concepts. Making a car producible is much different from building a one-off for car shows.

Honda is actually making the FCX Clarity available to consumers.