Honda’s FCX Clarity visits Corvallis

Did anyone see the future of automotive technology parked in downtown Corvallis? A group of fuel cell cars made their way to our town as part of a tour going from San Diego California, all the way up to British Columbia. A few of us at the dealership, (including Ron Theis, the owner) headed down to get up close and personal with Honda’s fuel cell car, the FCX Clarity. The event was free, and qualified folks could either ride or drive a number of different vehicles from various manufacturers. After driving the new Honda we were all very impressed. We were also very proud to see that the FCX Clarity seemed to be the only vehicle that people were lining up to drive!

Fuel cell technology is the latest development in the ongoing process of minimizing our reliance on petroleum-based fuel, and Honda is leading the way. The FCX Clarity runs off of a mixture of electricity and hydrogen. However, this sucker is mainly electrical. The magic of the FCX lies in Honda’s “V-Flow Fuel Cell Stack”. This is what takes hydrogen, and turns it into electricity. The electricity is then stored in lithium ion batteries, and ultimately used to move the vehicle. This exciting FCX gets the equivalent of 74 mpg, and the only emission that it has is water vapor and heat. Talk about lowering your “carbon footprint.”

The FCX has a revolutionary electric drive motor which directly propels the vehicle and eliminates the need for a transmission! People who have driven the FCX have noted its ability to accelerate immediately making it quite fast if it needs to be. This Honda of the

future also includes amenities like fabric made from plants, heating / cooling seats, satellite integrated navigation, and a rear camera. If you put all of these factors together the result is a very fast, smooth, and loaded Honda that gets about three times the gas mileage of the average car on the road. However, we can’t all go buy one yet.

Currently there are only seven FCX’s in the population, and they seem to be concentrated in California. These cars are available for lease only, and one actually belongs to actress, Jaime Lee Curtis and her husband, filmmaker Christopher Guest. But the reality is these cars are simply too expensive right now. Honda is trying to slowly create communities that will lease these cars and install local hydrogen fueling stations. But right now, the closest station to Corvallis is in the San Francisco area. So we will have to wait. However, one comforting fact is that Honda has had a working version of the FCX since 2003. Since then, it has only been improving! And it’s a new model with new technology, not new technology put into an existing body like other manufactures were offering on the tour). For more information go to: http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/