Honda FCX
Table of Contents
Honda FCX Concept and the Home Energy Station
Honda FCX Video
Geneva International Motor Show Announcement
Honda has given drivers a vision of the future with the unveiling of the FCX fuel cell concept at the 2006 Geneva International Motor Show. The decision to show the concept at Europe’s leading motor show demonstrates Honda’s well-established commitment to pushing technological boundaries that will benefit society and the environment . Following the development of the original FCX small car, the new FCX concept combines next generation fuel technology with the style and comfort of a premium saloon.
Fuel for the FCX could be provided by Honda’s very own Home Energy Station. This facility, which also previews in Geneva, converts natural gas into clean power for the home and hydrogen for fuel cell cars.
The FCX Concept
- Key Features
- Power and drivetrain
- Sleek outside, futuristic and inviting inside
- Premium, intelligent technologies
In a world first, Honda last year delivered one of its FCX fuel cell cars to a private individual in the US. Now, the new FCX Concept provides an indication to how a Honda production fuel cell vehicle might look in three years’ time. The FCX Concept boasts a fuel cell system that delivers more power in less space, in a unique, low-floor platform.
The sleek, premium four-door saloon’s low centre of gravity and full-sized cabin offer the kind of driving pleasure and roomy interior previously unimaginable in a fuel cell vehicle. The FCX Concept also features a wide range of technology both for extremely efficient performance and to enhance the driving experience.
Key Features
- Next generation fuel cell vehicle delivers more power in less space
- Compact fuel cell stack features vertical gas flow
- Ultra-low-temperature start-up performance
- Sleek four door premium sedan with full-sized cabin
- Advanced intelligent systems for enhanced safety and driving pleasure
- Refuelling from home with the Home Energy Station
Power and drivetrain
Fuel cell vehicles must accommodate a wide array of equipment: as well as the fuel cell stack, there is the motor and hydrogen tank which have traditionally been accommodated by raising the height of the floor. The packaging efficiency of Honda’s new compact V Flow fuel cell platform means that it has been possible to create the lowest floor in a fuel cell car so far.
At its heart is the V Flow fuel cell stack in which the cells are arranged vertically. This is compact enough to fit neatly into the centre tunnel but capable of producing 100 kW of power and offering good performance even in sub-zero temperatures – previously an obstacle in the commercialisation of fuel cell vehicles. The key to good fuel cell performance is water management, and Honda’s latest stack uses an innovative vertical gas flow, whereby oxygen and hydrogen flow downwards, with the water that is formed efficiently discharged under the action of gravity. The design achieves ultra-low-temperature start-up performance on a par with that of a petrol engine.
The drivetrain features three energy-efficient motors to deliver all-wheel drive. The 80 kW front-drive motor is coaxial with the gearbox which allows for a short and compact front end. Each of the rear wheels contains a thin, eccentric 25 kW motor which contribute to the space efficiency of the low-floor design.
Sleek outside, futuristic and inviting inside
The sleek styling with its tapered cabin profile and flared wheel arches creates an attractively dynamic look. The short nose and low floor permit a comfortably large cabin with luxurious seating. Contrasting materials, from futuristic transparent plastics to classic leather and wood, and premium reclining shell-like seats and foot rests in the rear combine to produce a warm, welcoming interior with an advanced feel. That effect is enhanced by intriguing elements like an instrument panel that appears to float, and an interactive floor that uses lighting to indicate changes in cabin temperature.
Premium, intelligent technologies
The instrument panel in front of the passenger seat tilts up and down through 45° in response to vehicle speed. Tilting the panel upwards during high-speed driving gives the passenger a sense of security, while tilting it downwards during low-speed travel opens the space for a more relaxed feel.
A Biometrics Driving Unit ensures that drivers approaching their car are recognised by vehicle sensors and intelligent cameras, prompting the unlocking of the doors and the setting of the steering wheel, accelerator pedal, and instrument panel to the optimal position.
Furthermore, a system installed in the instrument panel senses the driver’s line of sight shifting towards menu icons, and operates switches accordingly, allowing the driver hands-free operation of audio, air-conditioning and other vehicle systems.
The Home Energy Station
Is this the beginning of the end for the traditional filling station?
Refuelling at home?During the last seven years, Honda has made considerable strides in the development of fuel cell technology, but has also recognised that for the technology to be a success there has to be an adequate fuelling infrastructure. As part of its efforts to deliver an emissions-free, hydrogen-based society, Honda is developing the Home Energy Station which will generate clean power and hot water for the home and provide hydrogen fuel for the owner’s car.
The Home Energy Station system uses a reformer to generate hydrogen from natural gas supplied directly to the home. The system’s fuel cells then use this to generate and supply electricity to the home. The system is also configured to recover the heat produced during power generation for domestic water heating. In addition to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by some 40 per cent, the Home Energy Station system is expected to lower the total running cost of household electricity, gas and vehicle fuel by 50 per cent.
The system is able to supply a sufficient amount of hydrogen to power a fuel cell vehicle, such as the Honda FCX, for daily operation, while providing electricity for an average-sized household.
It also functions as a backup power generation system during power outages by using the hydrogen in the storage tank to power the internal fuel cell, providing as much as 5 kW of electrical power to the home in normal and emergency conditions.
Developed in conjunction with technology partner Plug Power Inc., the latest version, the Home Energy Station , will be tested in conjunction with the Honda FCX, the world’s most advanced fuel cell vehicle, at the Honda R&D Americas in Torrance, California.
Further Information
You can read more on the above technologies by following these links: