Green Machines: Hydrogen: Hydrogenous Enterprise
04/01/2007
On most track days at Laguna Seca Raceway, the smell of singed oil and the sounds of churning cylinder heads blanket the surrounding bucolic landscape. But at a recent real-world sampling of Honda’s FCX, you could both smell the wildflowers and hear a hawk wheeling, thanks to the liquid hydrogen propelling the four-door’s powerplant.Nailing the throttle out of Turn One yields nothing more than a metallic hum—think of a spinning drill bit—as the FCX soldiers bravely, if not exactly swiftly, to its 100 mph limit. With a cone-outlined chicane looming, I lean hard on the car’s brakes to snake through the S with admirably minimal body roll, then back on the accelerator for more drilling. All in all, not a bad way to spend the 270 miles you’ll get out of each hydrogen fill-up.
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Scheduled for a low-volume unveiling in 2008, this FCX is a quantum
leap beyond the existing hydrogen fuel cell FCX in limited and monitored
circulation. While that two-door model has the dowdy looks of an old CRV, the
new incarnation is positively Jetsonian. (Click images to enlarge)
The wedge-shaped, ruby-coated car
conveys the impression that it’s an Accord from the not-so-distant future. The
overall shape is that of a low-slung arc, with relatively short front and rear
overhangs. An abundance of glass brings the outside in. Entry to the FCX is
gained through four lipstick-sized door handles that open out, Aston Martin
style, like Swiss Army knife blades.
Dominating the FCX’s interior is an
innovative taupe-colored upholstery, called Bio Fabric, which feels a bit like
suede. Made from plant-based materials, it promises to be as durable as cowhide.
Front passengers are treated to an appropriately high-tech dash that broadcasts
enough digital data, in a rainbow of colors, to make the USS Enterprise command
center look outdated.
As with the driver and copilot, rear passengers enjoy
ample legroom, thanks largely to the FCX’s main breakthrough: a compact fuel
cell that stacks vertically between the two front seats. Another innovation is
the reduction from two liquid hydrogen tanks in the old FCX to one. Although the
tank does cut into the trunk somewhat, it makes this car look more like a functional vehicle than a gadget-stuffed
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Honda engineers enhanced legroom by tucking the FCX’s fuel cell
between the futuristic cabin’s two front seats. (Click image to enlarge)
“Coming up with a package that made the FCX look
like a normal sedan was our biggest hurdle,” says project leader Yozo Kami.
“While this should still be considered a prototype because it doesn’t have
DOT-approved bumpers or an air bag, overall, what we’ll produce will look the
same.”Who’ll get an FCX? Folks in the Los Angeles area are likely candidates
given the proximity of both hydrogen fueling stations and Honda’s U.S.
headquarters. Cost isn’t determined yet, though Honda’s Christina Ra says lease
rates are likely to top the current FCX $500-a-month bill. “For this new car,
we’re looking for real-world customers” as opposed to fleet-oriented users, she
says. “It’s not just the eco-conscious we’re aiming for, but anyone who likes
luxury and technology.”
Other manufacturers are currently pushing the
hydrogen envelope as well, notably BMW, whose special dual-fuel 7 Series (it can
switch between hydrogen and gasoline) will be on loan to select customers next
year. But all this hydrogen hoopla aside, the day we all zip noiselessly into a
station and fill up with H could still be well into the future.
“There have
been amazing breakthroughs in the past 10 years on this front, but a variety of
issues remain,” says scientist Craig Marks, chairman of a review committee that
monitors the government’s ongoing hydrogen-focused FreedomCAR project. “The
price of these cars remains high, as is the energy cost involved in compressing
hydrogen and liquefying it. It’ll take some 10 to 20 years to sort these and
other problems out.”
Fair enough. In the meantime, Honda’s sleek and
practical second-generation FCX just raised the bar in this hydrogen-powered
sweepstakes.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Price: N/A
Engine: AC synchronous electric motor
Transmission: 1-speed reduction unit
Power: 127hp (electric)
Torque: 188ft lbs
Curb Weight: 4,000 lbs (est.)
Zero-to-60: 10 seconds (est.)
Top Speed: 100 mph
Range: 270 miles
Average Fuel Consumption: 52 (city)/49 (highway)
Pro: You really can't get any better than zero-emissions.
Con: Very limited production in 2008. Start making some phone calls.