The Honda Clarity

[Detour]

Honda's new hydrogen fuel cell production vehicle might get a few of these folks to shut up for a minute. Yes, the technology is cutting edge. Yes, the range on this vehicle is still hobbled by the lack of hydrogen fueling stations. Yes, it ain't cheap. But the new Honda FCX Clarity is groundbreaking in every way. Emitting only water, gorgeously styled, and a true peak at what we can do if we put our minds to finding real power train alternatives, The FCX Clarity made it's debut at the L.A. Auto Show and had notoriously jaded automotive journalists truly interested.

Link

A very positive step forward imo.

edit: lol, I didn't realise this was that old. These things are due out this year wtf.

[SpoDaddy]

People have been calling me crazy for years for suggesting we'll have cars that run on water. Now who's laughing? Me, that's who.

[Cowutopia]

it'll be nice when they're 30,000 dollars instead of 950,000 dollars.

[Cowutopia]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_vehicle

Read about the difficulty and cost of fuel cell production.

[Cowutopia]

Electrolysis, currently the most inefficient method of producing hydrogen, uses 65 percent to 112 percent of the higher heating value on a well-to-tank basis.[19] Environmental consequences of the production of hydrogen from fossil energy resources include the emission of greenhouse gases, a consequence that would also proceed from the on-board reforming of methanol into hydrogen. Studies comparing the environmental consequences of hydrogen production and use in fuel cell vehicles to the refining of petroleum and combustion in conventional automobile engines find a net reduction of ozone and greenhouse gases in favor of hydrogen.[1] Hydrogen production using renewable energy resources would not create such emissions or, in the case of biomass, would create near-zero net emissions assuming new biomass is grown in place of that converted to hydrogen. The scale of renewable energy use today is insufficient and would need to be greatly increased to meet demand for widespread use in transportation.

Replacement of the existing extensive gasoline fuel station infrastructure would cost 500 billion U.S. dollars in the United States alone.[25]

Most of today's hydrogen is produced using fossil energy resources.

[Gymkata]

Everything is made with fossil fuels. From the plastic controlls of your computer to the tasty dinner your mom is cooking right now!

-Fossil Fuels
You aint done with us yet beeoooooch!

[Anne Bonny]

I heard somewhere that it takes like 3 gallons of fossil fuels to make 1 gallon of hydrogen fuel. Dont know if its true, but it sounds like until they get that figured out, hydrogen cars would make things even worse instead of better.

[Grave]

But it's the futuristic kind of worse. I can deal with that.

[MarkRyan]

People have been calling me crazy for years for suggesting we'll have cars that run on water. Now who's laughing? Me, that's who.

Hydrogen cars don't run on water, but they produce it as an emission

Honda's not the only company doing this test fleet. GM has a few hydrogen Equinoxes in the same Los Angeles area, and I believe there's another company (Toyota?) set to have some hydrogen cars in a test fleet. Right now, it's all very expensive, though. Even though Honda is leasing the cars for around $650 a month, it obviously costs Honda a lot more than that for the vehicles.

Hydrogen powered cars are a cool idea for sure. Here's hoping they can work out the logistics (without making V8s obsolete).

[PaCrappa]

Hydrogen powered cars are a cool idea for sure. Here's hoping they can work out the logistics (without making V8s obsolete).

IAWTP