Green Machines: Hydrogen: Hydrogenous Enterprise
April 1, 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center look outdated.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.”
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