Honda FCV: A powerful hydrogen-powered sedan to launch in broader market

Honda unveiled its third generation fuel cell vehicle, known as FCV, at the Tokyo Motor Show 2015 this week. The five-passenger sedan is the first hydrogen-powered model that Honda has offered to the public.

The FCV is the follow-up of to the Honda FCX Clarity, the company's second-generation  fuel cell car. The FCX Clarity was available in limited numbers on a short-term lease agreement in California and Japan.  

This time, the FCV is expected to be offered in a broader market with more affordable price. The car is one-tenth the cost of its previous versions.

Honda has improved the power density of the fuel cell in the new FCV, from 2.0kW/L to 3.1kW/L. It is also 33% smaller than its predecessor. The power system under the car hood is taking up no more space than a typical V-6 engine. This means the car has more spaces for passengers and cargo.

The Japanese car maker has crammed the entire fuel cell, control electronics, blower and single-speed gearbox under the bonnet. The compact fuel cell power-train can also be used in a variety of Honda vehicles.

The FCV's motor output is higher than that of a fuel cell. The battery can be used as 'power booster' to add to the urge on occasion.

The fuel cell system, according to Drive, uses compressed hydrogen to generate electricity and then the car emits nothing but water vapour from the tailpipe. The fuel cell is able to produce 130kW of power and 300Nm of torque. The output is similar to a modern 2.0-litre turbo-charged four-cylinder petrol engine.

The FCV's fuel cell can travel 700 km (434 miles) when it is full of hydrogen on a single charge.

Like its predecessor, Honda FCV sedan combines a steel body with some aluminum panels for doors, boot and bonnet. But the car is heavier  about 100kg than its predecessor due to the extra weight of the pressure tanks.

Another cool feature offered in Honda FCV is, as reported on Mashable, that when plugged into a Honda device called the Power Exporter 9000, it can produce enough electricity to power an average home for approximately seven days. This feature is perfect during a natural disaster or run of the mill power outage.

Honda FCV will be available on market in the next spring, according to Forbes. Honda expects to sell far more than its previous generation fuel cell. It will later be available in the US and European market. The FCV is priced at 7.66 million yen or $62,807.