Honda announces world premier of all-new fuel-cell FCV Concept

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. unveiled a concept car for an all-new fuel-cell vehicle, the Honda FCV Concept (FCV) and the Honda Power Exporter Concept, a concept model for an external power feeding device that enables AC power output from the FCV with maximum
output of 9 kW*.

The all-new FCV production model that will be based on this concept is scheduled to go on sale in Japan by the end of March 2016 and subsequently in the US and Europe.

In addition to the FCV and external power feeding device, Honda will further promote the application of the Smart Hydrogen Station (SHS) - a packaged hydrogen station unit that adopts Honda's original high-differential-pressure electrolyser.

In this way, Honda will work toward the forthcoming hydrogen society under three key concepts - 'generate', 'use' and 'get connected' - and continues to pursue a CO2-free society.

Based on this view, Honda has been positioning the FCV - which uses electricity generated through the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen as a power source for the motor - as the ultimate environmentally responsible vehicle and taking a proactive approach to the research and development of FCVs since the late 1980s.

The Honda FCV Concept is a concept car for Honda's next-generation FCV, a successor model to the FCX Clarity, with which Honda strives to achieve a further improvement in performance and a reduction in cost.

The newly-developed fuel-cell stack installed to this concept car is 33 per cent smaller than the previous fuel-cell stack and yet achieves output of more than 100 kW and output density as high as 3.1 kW/L, improving the overall performance by approximately 60 per cent compared to the previous version of the fuel-cell stack.

Hondas next-generation FCV will be the world's first** FCV sedan with the entire powertrain, including the downsized fuel-cell stack, consolidated under the hood of a sedan-type vehicle. This powertrain layout enables a full cabin package that seats five adults comfortably and also will make it possible to evolve this vehicle into multiple models in the future when the more widespread use of FCVs requires enhanced choices for customers.

The Honda FCV Concept is also equipped with a 70 MP a high-pressure hydrogen storage tank that provides a cruising range of more than 700 km***. The tank can be refilled in approximately three minutes****, making refuelling as quick and easy as todays gasoline vehicles.

Furthermore, the Honda FCV Concept features an external power feeding function*****, which underwent a large number of verification tests with the FCX Clarity. When combined with an external power feeding device, this FCV can function as a small-sized mobile power plant that generates and provides electricity to the community in times of disaster or other events.

Striving to make a contribution to the forthcoming 'hydrogen energy society', Honda will continue taking on new challenges in the area of hydrogen technologies including the Smart Hydrogen Station, FCVs and external power feeding devices.


* Honda internal measurement
** Honda internal research
*** Honda internal measurement in JC08 mode and use of hydrogen station with charging pressure of 70 MPa The cruising range may be shorter depending on conditions of usage (ambient temperature, traffic, etc.) and how the vehicle is driven (sudden starts, use of airconditioning unit, etc.)
**** Time required for refueling will vary depending on conditions
***** Japanese version

Posted in: Asia Pacific,Concept,Europe,FCV Concept,Fuel-Cell,Honda,Japan,Luxury,North America,United States,World Premiere