Honda will announce its first customers when the first FCX Clarity rolls off the production line at a ceremony on 16 June in Japan, where Honda will also showcase the world’s first dedicated fuel cell vehicle production facility. Additionally, Honda will announce further plans for involvement by Honda dealerships in the US, as well as future customer care and customer qualification initiatives.

The advances in fuel-cell powertrain technology reflected in the FCX Clarity reduce the size of the system and provide designers with more flexibility. Click to enlarge.

The FCX Clarity launch began in October 2005 with the unveiling of the next-generation FCX Concept vehicle at the Tokyo Motor Show, which was followed in November 2007 by the debut of the FCX Clarity production model at the Los Angeles Auto Show, where the company announced plans to begin leasing vehicles to customers in the US. (Earlier post.)

Honda expects to lease several dozen FCX Clarity models per year in the US and Japan to reach the total of about 200 units in the first three years. The company is now working to narrow the list of US customers through a four-step customer qualification process:

• Based on respondents’ residential location, the list of potential customers has been narrowed to approximately 500 people living in very close proximity to publicly-accessible hydrogen fueling stations, including planned or existing stations in Santa Monica, Torrance and Irvine.

• Customers meeting the geographical criteria will receive an e-mail prompting them to take a customer selection survey if they are serious about wanting to lease an FCX Clarity.

• The survey will qualify customers based on driving patterns, vehicle needs, vehicle storage and financial criteria.

• Customers qualify for the next steps, including an interview with American Honda.

Everyone who has expressed an interest in the FCX Clarity will be kept abreast of new developments via the FCX Clarity web site and by e-mail communications. All interested prospects’ information will be retained for future consideration.

The FCX Clarity utilizes Honda’s V Flow stack in combination with a new compact and efficient lithium-ion battery pack. (Earlier post.) The fuel cell stack operates as the vehicle’s main power source. Additional energy captured through regenerative braking and deceleration is stored in the lithium-ion battery pack, and used to supplement power from the fuel cell, when needed. Significant advances over Honda’s previous generation FCX include:

• An advanced new four-passenger sedan design;

• A greater than 30% increase in driving range to an estimated 270 miles;

• A 20% increase in fuel economy to an estimated 68 mpg;

• A 48% increase in fuel cell stack power density;

• A lithium-ion battery pack that is 40% lighter and 50% smaller than the FCX’s ultra-capacitor; and

• A single 5,000-psi hydrogen storage tank with 10% additional hydrogen capacity than the previous model.