Honda's FCX concept is the next generation of the FCX hydrogen fuel-cell car currently in the hands of 20 testers in California, including one family. It will be "marketed" in Japan and the U.S. in 2008. That means it will be leased, not sold outright, with greater focus on consumers.
Unlike the current FCX, which is a conventional Japanese model with hydrogen and electric components stuffed into it, the new model was designed as a fuel-cell/electric car from the beginning. Its platform is unique and takes advantage of the flexibility of the new electrical components. The secret to this model is a vertical fuel-cell stack that resides in a center tunnel. It's not unlike a tower PC, which revolutionized home computing by going vertical and getting off the desktop. The FCX's fuel cell — which was formerly horizontal, limiting headroom — is now also out of the way.
By the numbers, this component is also 20 percent smaller and 30 percent lighter, yet 14 kilowatts more powerful, than the current version. Likewise, the drive motor is 40 percent smaller, almost 400 pounds lighter and has 15 kilowatts more output. Honda has replaced its ultracapacitor (not to be confused with Doc Brown's flux capacitor) with a lithium-ion battery, which is more space- and weight-efficient. (This component is needed for bursts of acceleration because the fuel cell has a slight delay; it also allows the car to store regenerated electricity when braking, as hybrids do.) The estimated range on a full tank of hydrogen is now 354 miles, up from 275 in the current FCX.
The car is larger — more an Accord than a Fit — with four doors and a remarkably spacious interior. Again, by starting from scratch, Honda was able to maximize cargo space. The current FCX has practically none.
It's not a bad-looking car, either. In profile it looks like an exaggerated version of the Civic. The rear recalls the Honda Insight and, if you squint, there's something Mercedes R-Class-ish about the rising beltline.
Like the current model that's in the hands of the Spallino family of Los Angeles, the new version will be leased only to select consumers — probably more to celebrities, politicians and other influentials than less-photogenic commuters. Bear in mind there are currently 31 hydrogen fueling stations nationwide, 23 of which are in California. Michigan has three, and the rest are solo stations in other states.
Don't be fooled into thinking fuel-cell cars are just around the corner just because consumers are starting to get their hands on 'em. Each of the 20 copies out today, including the Spallinos', is a million-dollar car. The programs are about research and development. Because of the research aspect, the lease isn't as cheap as you might expect. The Spallinos pay $500 a month on their two-year lease. Oddly enough, Honda determined that a real fee would help their cause. A paying customer isn't going to hold back on feedback the way a freeloader might. So far, they say, the experiment has proven invaluable.
Honda says continued development and economies of scale mean the new FCX won't be worth $1 million a pop ... but that's probably a technicality.
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