What Is It?
Honda FCX Concept
What's Special About It?
We've seen fuel-cell vehicles before, including an FCX that Honda has already put on the road. They are usually tall, lumpy little science experiments rather than long, streamlined tools of rapid personal transit. The FCX Concept that Honda unveiled is profoundly different, and more alluring, than its limited-production namesake.
One key to this transformation is the low and compact packaging of the fuel-cell componentry in a manner reminiscent of the "skateboard" platform under GM's Sequel fuel-cell concept car of two years ago. With hydrogen tanks, fuel-cell stack, battery packs, control units and the rest laid out low in the frame and down the central tunnel, a large, airy interior is possible within a low, sleek body. Glass everywhere accentuates the sense of spaciousness inside. The FCX body gets a modern aero look from its low, short nose and long, tall tail, but pronounced fender lips over big wheels and tires shout performance.
One 80kW motor drives the front wheels, but each rear wheel also has its own 25kW motor. This combination makes efficient use of space, provides the stability of all-wheel drive, and should deliver sparkling acceleration. According to Honda, advancements in the fuel-cell stack and storage tanks provide cold starting and cruising range on par with conventional gasoline-fueled vehicles.
Alongside the FCX Concept, Honda displayed its new Home Energy Station (HES), an integrated module that runs off the household natural-gas supply to generate hydrogen vehicle fuel. The HES also provides heat and electricity back to the house.
What's Edmunds' Take?
If this is the shape of fuel-cell vehicles to come, suddenly the technology looks a whole lot sexier than it has before. — Kevin Smith
Honda FCX Concept
What's Special About It?
We've seen fuel-cell vehicles before, including an FCX that Honda has already put on the road. They are usually tall, lumpy little science experiments rather than long, streamlined tools of rapid personal transit. The FCX Concept that Honda unveiled is profoundly different, and more alluring, than its limited-production namesake.
One key to this transformation is the low and compact packaging of the fuel-cell componentry in a manner reminiscent of the "skateboard" platform under GM's Sequel fuel-cell concept car of two years ago. With hydrogen tanks, fuel-cell stack, battery packs, control units and the rest laid out low in the frame and down the central tunnel, a large, airy interior is possible within a low, sleek body. Glass everywhere accentuates the sense of spaciousness inside. The FCX body gets a modern aero look from its low, short nose and long, tall tail, but pronounced fender lips over big wheels and tires shout performance.
One 80kW motor drives the front wheels, but each rear wheel also has its own 25kW motor. This combination makes efficient use of space, provides the stability of all-wheel drive, and should deliver sparkling acceleration. According to Honda, advancements in the fuel-cell stack and storage tanks provide cold starting and cruising range on par with conventional gasoline-fueled vehicles.
Alongside the FCX Concept, Honda displayed its new Home Energy Station (HES), an integrated module that runs off the household natural-gas supply to generate hydrogen vehicle fuel. The HES also provides heat and electricity back to the house.
What's Edmunds' Take?
If this is the shape of fuel-cell vehicles to come, suddenly the technology looks a whole lot sexier than it has before. — Kevin Smith
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