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Honda Brings Clarity to its Fuel Cell Plans

October 28, 2015 by admin 2 Comments

New Honda fuel cell model goes on sale first in Japan — North America and Europe will follow.

Since releasing its first delivered fuel cell model in 2002, Honda has quietly been making plans for broadening availability in line with the development of hydrogen fueling infrastructures in Japan and as well as in California.

The original FCX — Fuel Cell eXperimental — was a three-door, four-seat hatchback developed in very limited quantities and offered to customers in Japan and in Southern California. In 2008, the hatchback was replaced by the FCX Clarity, a midsize sedan with room for four. The second model improved upon the original’s 190-mile hydrogen range to deliver 240 miles of fuel cell range.

Honda Clarity Fuel Cell

Arriving March 2016: Honda Clarity Fuel Cell

2015 Tokyo Motor Show

With various concepts, prototypes and limited production fuel cell models behind it, Honda has once again presented another fuel cell model, dubbed the Clarity Fuel Cell. Introduced at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show this week, the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell offers room for five and a driving range of 435 miles. The all-new hydrogen-powered sedan will go on sale in Japan next March; an initial annual output of just 200 units is expected.

Significant improvements over the previous generation model have yielded a vehicle with 60 percent longer range. The new fuel stack is 33 percent smaller than its predecessor with 100 kW output attained and with much greater energy density. Honda says the new fuel pack is as compact as a V6 engine, enabling it to consolidate it under the hood for the first time. Energy is stored in a lithium-ion battery; refueling takes about three minutes. Water vapor is this vehicle’s only emission.

Previously, the fuel pack was located below the seats, thus limiting the interior room to four people. With its dimensions similar to the outgoing model and aligning closely with the midsize Honda Accord sedan, the extra seat placement will certainly come in handy.

Honda Clarity Fuel Cell Price

Honda says that the Clarify Fuel Cell will cost 7.66 million yen which converts to $63,644 as of publication. That’s about $5,000 more than the competing Toyota Mirai, a fuel cell vehicle just now going on sale. The Clarity is slightly larger than the Mirai and has an 8 percent longer driving range than the Toyota.

US Honda consumers won’t be able to get the Clarify Fuel Cell, at least not initially. Honda intends to deliver its initial batch of vehicles to Japanese government entities and businesses. The automaker says it will “…collect information about the in-market use situation, including the external power feeding device, and gather diverse opinions from customers and other relevant organizations, then later begin sales to individual customers.” Sales will later spread to the United States and Europe, although a timeline has not be released.

US consumers desiring a fuel cell vehicle are currently limited to the Hyundai Tucson FCEV, the Toyota Mirai, Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL, and the upcoming BMW i8 Coupe and the 5 Series Gran Turismo. Even so, those models are restricted to Southern California where the barebones of a hydrogen infrastructure should flesh out to a more robust framework. Toyota plans to eventually roll out its Mirai in the northeast US.

Currently Available Tax Credits and Rebates

US customers who manage to land a fuel cell vehicle are eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit. Another $6,500 state rebate for low and moderate income California families drops that price further. Wealthier California residents are still eligible for a $5,000 rebate on fuel cell vehicles, but for those making over $250,000, tax rebates on battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have been eliminated.

Once again, the high cost of buying an alternate fuel vehicle weights in. And with no nationwide infrastructure planned, fuel cell vehicles may long remain a niche segment within the tiny EV sphere.

See Also — Crumbling Chevrolet Sonic Sales Leads to Layoffs

Photo copyright Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: CALIFORNIA, FUEL CELL VEHICLES, HONDA CLARITY FUEL CELL, HONDA FCX CLARITY, hydrogen, HYUNDAI TUCSON FCEV, JAPAN, tax credit, TAX REBATE, Toyota Mirai

California Tax Breaks for Fuel Efficient Vehicles

January 28, 2013 by admin 2 Comments

The state of California continues to demonstrate leadership in advancing a sustainable energy policy with its Clean Vehicle Rebate Project the cornerstone from which it advances this initiative. Funded by the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Resource Board, this California Center for Sustainable Energy managed program provides state rebates of up to $2,500 per eligible vehicle. Purchased and leased vehicles are covered under its program.

2014 Honda Accord PHEV.
New: 2014 Honda Accord PHEV.

Clean Vehicle Rebate Project

The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project was designed with the sole purpose to encourage and accelerate zero-emission, on-road vehicle deployment and technology innovation.

Eligible vehicles must have been bought new to qualify for a California tax break. Three categories of electric vehicles are covered: battery electric vehicles (BEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and fuel cell vehicles (FCEV). Standard hybrids such as the Toyota Prius c and the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid are not part of the project.

Purchase, Lease Requirements

The project applies only to vehicles that were purchased or leased from March 15, 2010. Such vehicles must be ARB certified and are restricted to a gross vehicle weight of up to 8,500 pounds. While this requirement excludes converted heavy duty pickup trucks, the project encompasses cars, zero emission motorcycles and neighborhood electric vehicles.

To qualify, individuals and businesses as well as government entities and nonprofit organizations must be based in California. Those businesses or groups with a California based affiliate are also eligible provided that the vehicle is registered in the Golden State. Applicants must own or lease a vehicle for a minimum of 36 months. If a California DMV-registered vehicle is sold or returned ahead of time, ARB approval must be given first and the tax credit prorated and returned to the state. No vehicle, however, can be sold for a profit during that 36-month period.

Eligible California Vehicles

California identifies a large number of vehicles that are eligible under CVRP. For instance, the Honda FCX Clarity, an FCEV, can garner lessees a $2,500 tax rebate as can the Mercedes-Benz F-Cell. Your battery electric vehicle options are more numerous and include the CODA Sedan, Honda Fit EV, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Smart Fortwo EV, the Tesla Roadster, Toyota RAV4 EV and vehicles from Ford, Think, Wheego, Nissan and BYD. The state tax rebates here are for up to $2,500.

A handful of PHEV models are also eligible including the Chevrolet Volt, Honda Accord, Ford Fusion Energi, Ford CMAX Energi and the Toyota Prius PHEV. California tax rebates in this category are $1,500. Lastly, qualified ZEV motorcycles and neighborhood electric vehicles may also be eligible for a $900 California tax rebate.


See Also — Fuel Efficient Vehicles and Federal Tax Incentives

Filed Under: Special Tagged With: BEV, CALIFORNIA, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, EV, FCEV, PHEV, TAX BREAK, TAX REBATE

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