With the ever increasing prices of fuel not to mention its harmful impact to the environment, it is invigorating to note that there is an automaker like Honda that has taken the initiative to provide us with better alternatives such as the state-of-the-art hydrogen fuel-cell car which will be released in California next year.
The Japanese automaker will start by leasing zero-emissions FCX Clarity at $600 per month. The new Honda fuel-cell car will only emit water. Honda have not yet announced any details on the technology involved in the Clarity and have not divulged the approaches they will use when it comes to dealing with the number of technical obstacles that goes with hydrogen engines.
Aside from Honda, the Scientific American article on hydrogen engine technology has mentioned Ford and BMW as having plans also of offering cars powered by hydrogen engines in the coming future. But of course, a hydrogen fueled vehicle is not without problems. The technology alone is a problem by itself and with Honda finally releasing its Clarity can be considered a breakthrough.
And speaking of problems, the amount of space to house the hydrogen fuel is one of the predicaments faced by automakers that is aside from the storage needed for hydrogen gas in the automobile, the speed at which hydrogen refills can be added to the engine, the distance a hydrogen fill-up will allow a driver to travel, and the temperature at which the hydrogen is both stored and used in the engine. Each of these areas is a challenge that scientist are trying to solve.
The development of hydrogen-powered vehicle is a welcomed venture in the US particularly with two-thirds of the more than 20 million barrels of oil in the nation are consumed by cars and trucks. Such effort will definitely help in countering the impact of high fuel prices. Laboratories from Japan to Germany are working to finally perfect the hydrogen engine technology.
Honda has not yet disclosed the number of FCX Clarity that they will offer in their leasing program. The Japanese automaker has not also discussed the cost of each automobile but with the complexities of the said technology it is to be expected that it would cost more than the average vehicle.
More News on Honda… Just this week, Honda Aero Inc. has broke ground on its corporate headquarters and jet-engine plant in Burlington.
Honda Aero is a joint venture developed between GE and Honda with the intention of producing the GE-Honda HF120 engine. This particular engine will be used for very light jet including the Honda aviation-made HondaJet which was produced and tested in Greensboro.
The headquarters and facility of Honda Aero is a property that is adjacent to the Burlington Alamance Country airport. It measures 102,400 square feet of which include the 36,000 square feet of office space, 58, 400 square-foot production plant, and the 8,000 square foot engine test cell.
Honda the producer of high quality Acura alternator will employ around 70 people once the plant begins its operations. For this facility Honda Aero will invest around $27 million in the facility.
About the Author
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.
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