TheSamba.com :: View topic - Honda FCX Clarity; hydrogen fuel cell car.

Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:51 am

Nice looking, modern auto that seems to be the future of auto travel. Now we just need some sort of infrastucture to provide fuel and the prices have to be realistic for both the car and the fuel.

http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/
Quote: Honda's new zero-emission, hydrogen fuel cell car rolled off a Japanese production line Monday and is headed to Southern California, where Hollywood is already abuzz over the latest splash in green motoring.

The FCX Clarity, which runs on hydrogen and electricity, emits only water and none of the noxious fumes believed to induce global warming. It is also two times more energy efficient than a gas-electric hybrid and three times that of a standard gasoline-powered car, the company says.

Japan's third biggest automaker expects to lease out a "few dozen" units this year and about 200 units within three years...

...The FCX Clarity is an improvement of its previous-generation fuel cell vehicle, the FCX, introduced in 2002.

A breakthrough in the design of the fuel cell stack, which is the unit that powers the car's motor, allowed engineers to lighten the body, expand the interior and increase efficiency, Honda said.

The fuel cell draws on energy synthesized through a chemical reaction between hydrogen gas and oxygen in the air, and a lithium-ion battery pack provides supplemental power. The FCX Clarity has a range of about 270-miles per tank with hydrogen consumption equivalent to 74 miles per gallon, according to the carmaker.

The 3,600-pound vehicle can reach speeds up to 100 miles per hour.

http://finance.comcast.net/www/news.html?x=http://...987182.xml

Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:04 am

I want to know why all of these "future" cars always look like ass. Not one of them has any sense of self or style. Car designers today have no imagination.

Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:38 pm

It would be cool if they would go back to more classic automobile forms, such as the timeless lines of the late 90s Chevrolet Cavalier.

Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:49 pm

Problem is, How much does it cost to produce the Hydrogen.
We do not have a way developed yet to produce cheap hydrogen. Yes, it is a clean burning fuel, but it is a fuel that is expensive to produce. You have to use large amounts of electricity to crack the H2O into hydrogen and oxygen.
Why not crack NH3 into hydrogen and and nitrogen. 1700 degrees and a nickel catalyst, and it cracks.

Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:25 pm

Russ Wolfe wrote: Problem is, How much does it cost to produce the Hydrogen.

It's the most abundant substance in the universe, so of course they'll charge whatever the market will bear. :lol:

Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:27 pm

Realistically, IF it eventually costs less to break down H20 into H2 and O2 with electricity and have it cost less to drive the same distance on H2 than on gasoline or diesel, then there might be a transition to H2. But not now. Unless there is some sort of technology developed that produces hydrogen cheaply, it aint happening for a while.

I keep an open mind, everything has potential. 8) :)

Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:40 am

Icy wrote: I want to know why all of these "future" cars always look like ass. Not one of them has any sense of self or style. Car designers today have no imagination.

I worked in the auto industry as a designer. I wasn't particularly great, but I went to college with and studied under many enormously talented working Detroit designers and I understand the industry. The bean counters, engineers, lawyers and the corporate grind squeeze the creativity out of you. Trust me, your perceived shortcomings in auto design have nothing to do with lack of imagination.

Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:47 am

ubercrap wrote:
I worked in the auto industry as a designer. I wasn't particularly great,

Hence the reason you like 412's! :wink: :lol:

Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:22 am

ubercrap wrote: Icy wrote: I want to know why all of these "future" cars always look like ass. Not one of them has any sense of self or style. Car designers today have no imagination.

I worked in the auto industry as a designer. I wasn't particularly great, but I went to college with and studied under many enormously talented working Detroit designers and I understand the industry. The bean counters, engineers, lawyers and the corporate grind squeeze the creativity out of you. Trust me, your perceived shortcomings in auto design have nothing to do with lack of imagination. Very true. My dad was an engineer and it was usually a battle with bean counters and upper management's lack of understanding that got in the way of projects.

Tue Jun 17, 2008 8:07 am

localboy wrote: Nice looking, modern auto that seems to be the future of auto travel. Now we just need some sort of infrastucture to provide fuel and the prices have to be realistic for both the car and the fuel.

http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/
Quote: The FCX Clarity has a range of about 270-miles per tank with hydrogen consumption equivalent to 74 miles per gallon, according to the carmaker..

Must have a small fuel tank. Even with my heavy foot, I get 390-420 miles per tank in my Prius.

Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:24 am

Kelley wrote: localboy wrote: Nice looking, modern auto that seems to be the future of auto travel. Now we just need some sort of infrastucture to provide fuel and the prices have to be realistic for both the car and the fuel.

http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/
Quote: The FCX Clarity has a range of about 270-miles per tank with hydrogen consumption equivalent to 74 miles per gallon, according to the carmaker..

Must have a small fuel tank. Even with my heavy foot, I get 390-420 miles per tank in my Prius.

Fuel Capacity / System Pressure 4.1 kg @ 5000psi

Yep, but 270 per tank would not be a problem for us and 74 mpg. Personally, if it was economically viable, I'd drive one in a heartbeat as a daily (or should I say my wife would drive one as a daily).

Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:10 am

Icy wrote: ubercrap wrote: Icy wrote: I want to know why all of these "future" cars always look like ass. Not one of them has any sense of self or style. Car designers today have no imagination.

I worked in the auto industry as a designer. I wasn't particularly great, but I went to college with and studied under many enormously talented working Detroit designers and I understand the industry. The bean counters, engineers, lawyers and the corporate grind squeeze the creativity out of you. Trust me, your perceived shortcomings in auto design have nothing to do with lack of imagination. Very true. My dad was an engineer and it was usually a battle with bean counters and upper management's lack of understanding that got in the way of projects.

I had included engineers in my statement, but that really was unfair. The responsibilities of the "designer" and "engineer" often overlap and there is often a clash, sometimes due to personality types attracted to these professions. When the designers get off of their high horses, I think we often see there are very creative engineers willing to share the enthusiasm of creating something new and great, but a different breed of engineers- risk averse, visionless mopes- (backed by the bean counters and other clueless business moles) seemed to get put in charge of things and kill their ideas as well.