Honda Delays Production Hydrogen Fuel Cell Sedan Until 2016

This week Honda was slated to unveil the production version of its long-touted hydrogen fuel cell sedan. Instead, it will be showing off an updated version of its FCEV concept, delaying the production model until March of 2016. That’s bad news for fans of hydrogen fuel and Honda, which lacks a zero-emissions placeholder for 2015.

With the Honda Fit EV out of production, and the Honda hydrogen fuel cell vehicle delayed another year, the automaker won’t be able to meet CARB’s zero emissions vehicle mandate. It also means competitors will be making further inroads with customers seeking an alternative to petrol. Who knows how many potential customers Honda could be losing by delaying their long-awaited hydrogen sedan?

The Honda FCX Clarity was one of the first hydrogen-fueled vehicles you could get your hands on, debuting in 2008 as a lease-only, limited-sale vehicle in SoCal. A recent partnership with SolarCity could bring hydrogen fuel production to your home garage, though that doesn’t do much good if there’s nothing to fuel up. While estimates placed the cost of the Clarity as high as $1 million in 2005 when it first debuted, some analysts say production costs are down to as little as $120,000. That’s still about four-times the cost of the average car in the U.S., and while Honda isn’t saying exactly why it’s delaying production for another year, it’s easy to narrow down the reasons why.

At the top of the list is cost; perhaps Honda isn’t ready to take a huge hit on the sale of each hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. By some estimates, every Toyota Mirai FCV sold could cost the company $100,000 or more. There are other factors as well that could be hindering production as well, like the lack of infrastructure anywhere outside of California. Honda might also be waiting for additional government incentives or funding for fueling station expansion. Honda says that the production version of its fuel sedan, rumored to be called the ACX and looking something like this, still makes in excess of 100 kW/134 horsepower, with a driving range of 300 miles and a refilling time of less than five minutes at one of the growing number of quick-fuel stations.

Regardless of the reason for the delay, instead of a production hydrogen fuel cell vehicle Honda has given us an updated concept. It’s hard to spin that as good news.

Honda FCEV Concept Is The Future Of Fuel Cells

The future of mobility is, if you ask Honda, hydrogen fuel cells. Few automakers have invested as much time, research, and money into making hydrogen fuel cells feasible, and Honda’s first wave of hydrogen vehicles are slated to arrive around 2015. The Honda FCEV Concept is a precursor to the production model, though one hopes the futuristic styling sticks around.

Honda has worked hard to improve the efficiency and lower the cost of their fuel cell technology, and the 100 kW fuel stack packs 60 percent more energy while weighing 33% less than the fuel stack found in the Honda FCX Clarity. The FCEV Concept boasts a range of 300 miles, and Honda says it can be refueled in as little as three minutes, on par with most gasoline vehicles, even though the only emission is water vapor.

And let’s not forget about the gorgeous, futuristic styling. Though vaguely reminiscent of hybrids like the Honda Insight, the FCEV Concept has the right look for a car of the 21st century. Thin headlights and taillights combined with just the right amount of front and side flair make for a vehicle that straight up looks like it belongs in the year 2050, rather than 2015. Though I doubt the production model will be nearly as daring, I hope to see some of the FCEV’s features shine through as we get close to the release date.

Of course there are drawbacks, chief among them the lack of fueling stations (standing at just 10 so far throughout the entire U.S.) and pricing, which Honda has yet to determine. Like EVs though, the first wave of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is likely to be expensive, though costs will come down as production and technology ramps up.

Honda hopes to have the first production hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on the road by 2015, though performance specifications like horsepower and acceleration go unmentioned. With electric motors providing the propulsion though, there is no reason for the fast-looking FCEV to not be at least a little fun to drive.

Here’s looking forward to 2015.

Source: Honda