Behind the Wheel - Honda FCX Concept

Consumer Reports drove the FCX Concept fuel-cell vehicle in Washington, D.C., at a Honda event last month attended by about 25 other journalists. Although only two cars existed at the time, each worth well into seven figures, we were able to truly drive the FCX. From behind the wheel, we gained insights into this imminent, limited-production sedan and also glimpsed the zero-emissions future.

Looking down the road, beyond hybrid powertrains, many auto industry experts consider fuel-cell vehicles (FCV) to be the ultimate long-term personal transportation solution. These FCVs are essentially electric vehicles that produce the power on board by a chemical reaction fueled by hydrogen, with water vapor as the only tailpipe emission. (Hydrogen is extracted mostly from natural gas, a resource abundant in North America, with reserves estimated at 690 trillion cubic feet.)

We had the opportunity to drive Honda's first FCX for a few days in 2005. The tall, boxy two-door hatchback is used primarily in local and state government agencies. Two retail customers in California have also leased them for $500 a month. In September 2008, the low-slung, cab-forward FCX sedan will replace it. The FCX Concept looks like a stylish family sedan, somewhat resembling the 1998 Dodge Intrepid. It's 187 inches long, similar in size to the current VW Passat.

At the heart of the FCX Concept is a fuel stack that's more compact than that in the original FCX hatchback. In fact, it looks like a piece of 22-inch piece of carry-on luggage. It is slim enough to fit vertically under the armrest between the driver and passenger, while avoiding the high floor of the original car. The vertical placement uses gravity to speed the flow of water through the fuel cell to improve power. Under the rear seat is a lithium-ion battery. Regenerative brakes recharge the battery pack, which can provide short bursts of power. Behind it, resides a 45-gallon hydrogen tank holding the fuel in a compressed gas state at 5,000 psi. The power is sent to a front-mounted 95-kw (127-hp) electric motor that drives the front wheels. Torque is rated at 189 ft-lb.

With this experience under our belt, we can now come closer to answering the most frequently asked questions:

What will its fuel consumption be like?
The tank contains a little more than 4 kg of compressed hydrogen at 5000 psi, which enables a claimed 270-mile driving distance. Honda admits that this cruising range might be a stretch. Still, it's better than the 190-mile range of the smaller FCX hatchback. These numbers translate to the equivalent of roughly 68 miles per gallon of gas equivalent (GGE). One filling station in California offers a kilogram of compressed hydrogen for $4.99, for a cost per mile of 7 cents, compared with 12 cents a mile for gasoline at $3 a gallon (using the comparable four-cylinder Honda Accord's 24 mpg overall performance in our test). The FCX hatchback that this car will replace is EPA-rated at a combined equivalent of 57 mpg.

How safe is it?
The FCX concept is not EPA or NHTSA certified, yet. The discontinued FCX hatchback is certified, and it complies with federal safety standards, which include passing a frontal crash test. No independent consumer-information organization has crash tested it. Honda says that the FCX will be certified, as well. Many people tend to be leery about hydrogen, but when managed well, it should be benign. In case of hydrogen leakage, it dissipates into the atmosphere quickly.

What's it like to drive?
This midsized sedan feels remarkably normal--in a good way. The car gathers acceleration very promptly and quietly. The electric motor's immediate torque is felt right off the line. The electric motor whines on its way to highway speeds, but sounds quieter than most piston-engine cars. It sounds like a muted, distant hair dryer, with no traditional gas engine and or exhaust sounds. Honda says top speed is 100 mph and 0-60 mph acceleration is comparable to a four-cylinder Accord--roughly 9 seconds.

My colleague, Associate Editor Eric Evarts, and I had no problem hitting 76 mph on the prescribed 1.1-mile course in the parking lot of the Washington Nationals Stadium. Handling is fairly nimble--much more so than the current FCX. The ride was better than the natural-gas powered Honda Civic GX made available for evaluation. There was nothing weird about the steering or brake feel, despite the electrically assisted steering and regenerative brakes. Impressively, fit and finish was up to Honda's excellent production vehicle standards with barely any evidence that this was still a running prototype. The rear seat is roomy, but the trunk seems rather small behind the large cylinder-shaped hydrogen tank.

Honda doesn't volunteer how much the FCX Concept weighs. The automaker has said only that the sedan is a little lighter than the two-door FCX, which weighed about 3,800 pounds when we measured it at our test facility. Honda claims the new powertrain is 400 pounds lighter. Factoring the extra doors and larger body, we estimate the FCX Concept weighs between 3,500 and 3,700 pounds.

Refueling time is comparable to a gasoline fill up, according to Honda, although it can be topped off at very few stations at this point. Honda claims to be working with BP, Chevron, and Shell on developing the infrastructure for hydrogen storage and distribution. Honda's long-term vision, however, is a home refueling station where customers would be hooked to a natural gas source and use a device to reform it into hydrogen. This system would supply domestic electricity and heat, as well.

This may all sound farfetched today, but given social climate, political realities, and environmental changes, the FCX Concept may be a preview of the car of tomorrow. 

--Gabe Shenhar

Comments

[Derrick Gunter]

Looks like an Intrepid that got hungry and ate part of the rear of an Azera, the A-pillar of a Prius with a thyroid problem, and the front end of a first-generation Eclipse. Stylish? Yes. Good looking? I'm not so sure about that.

[Richard Boyle]

This can not happen soon enough and its a shame that the American car manfacturers are not taking the lead.

[jon]

BMW's 7 sedan comes out in a hydrogen version this year

[Jay]

When on the road, where does one fuel up, when away from home?

[susie]

I've been waiting for this car for several years. Will it have power to tow a trailer? How does it handle hills, mountains, on a daily basis? I'll be happy to be a test driver!

[David]

Honda cars have served me well and I am looking forward to this addition. Most of my driving is to and from work so this will do just fine. I like the future potential to fuel at home. I will readily sign up to be a test location for this.

[Charles Huckeby]

I would love to test one of these vihicles(honda or chevrolet). My son the enginer thanks he can build a hydrogen gas refilling machine since hydrogen is one of the biproducts of the power plant where he is a manager.

[DavidT]

1) it's flat wrong to say that the American companies arent' taking the lead with Fuel Cell Vehicles. As a matter of fact, for a number of years GM over-allocated R&D funds to a Manhattan Project-like Fuel Cell Vehicle development to the detriment of development of hybrids, clean diesels, and Plug-in-Hybrids and other key technologies.
2) I've driven the BMW Hydrogen7.. it's not for sale, it's only for lease. There will only be 100 produced, and it cost about $1,000,000 if you could buy it.
3) I'd invite folks to learn about a far more practical and near term solution: Plug-In-Hybrids. www.pluginpartners.org and www.calcars.org
4) Car companies should be investing proportionally far more in Plug-In Hybrids, further improvements in internal combustion engines with SIDI/HCCI/valvetrain control/forced induction-E85 engines, and lightweight materials.
5) The US should forge forward with cellulosic Ethanol.
These technologies are what should garner far more R&D focus and investment than Hydrogen powered Fuel Cell Vehicles.

[Greg]

Until this FC vehicle is cost effective, why doesn't Honda make their Civic NGV (natural gas vehicle) available in more markets than just California and New York? Natural gas is more ECO friendly than gasoline and Honda makes a fueling appliance that connects to a home's natural gas line. The Civic NGV can be bought now at a price comparable to a conventional gas Civic. Refueling at home, now that's a great idea!

[Tiffany]

I agree with Greg. I live in CA and purchased Honda's GX NGV in Jan 08. I LOVE IT! I'm approached quite often and asked about it. There seems to be a lot of interest and I am shocked Honda doesn't produce more in CA and NY nor sells them across the US.
I think it is the cheapest alternative for now (I pay $2.50/gal gas equiv. (I don't have it yet, but Honda makes a Home Fueling Station you get a reduced gas rate from the Gas Co. approx $1.00/gal gas equiv). I wish I saw more on the road, it's the ultimate way to reduce dependence on foreign oil and I feel good that I'm not in that gasoline trap day-in-day-out.

[Carlos]

Americans car manufacturers have to stop working on improving efficiency on big vehicles and work on a small 2 adults 2 or 3 kids small car and forget about HP, 0-60, quarter mile and top speed. I will be happy with a small Metro/Focus/Neon with the equivalent of 0-60 in 14 seconds and a top speed of 80 MPH and high MPG.