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Bronco_Beerslug
10-20-2006, 11:44 AM
Honda has fast tracked this technology and as usual, way ahead of GM and Ford. Not a bad looking vehicle overall.

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Honda Demonstrates the FCX Concept Vehicle
Fully functional Next-Generation Fuel Cell makes its driving debut

TOCHIGI, Japan 09/25/2006 --

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today held a demonstration drive of the next-generation FCX Concept fuel cell vehicle. The FCX Concept features a newly developed compact, high-efficiency Honda FC Stack as well as a low-floor, low-riding, short-nose body. It offers a comfortably large cabin and futuristic styling along with significant improvements in power output and environmental performance. Limited marketing of a totally new fuel cell vehicle based on this concept model is to begin in 2008 in Japan and the U.S.


http://us.tnpv.net//pv/2006/09/25/HON2006092530905_pv.jpg


http://us.tnpv.net//pv/2006/09/25/HON2006092530811_pv.jpg


To meet Honda objectives for significant gains in both environmental and driving performance, the FCX Concept is equipped with a V Flow1 fuel cell platform consisting of a compact, high-efficiency fuel cell stack arranged in an innovative center-tunnel layout. This has allowed designers to create an elegant, low-riding, sedan form that would have been difficult to achieve in a conventional fuel cell vehicle. This new fuel cell stack is 20 percent smaller and 30 percent lighter than the current FCX FC Stack, yet its power output is 14kW greater. The drive motor has been positioned coaxially with the gearbox for a more compact design, with output increased by 15kW. Overall, the power plant is about 180kg lighter than that of the current FCX and about 40 percent smaller in volume. The result is improved energy efficiency and performance along with a more spacious interior.

While with previous fuel cell stacks the hydrogen and the water formed in electricity generation flowed horizontally, the new FCX Concept features vertical-flow design. This allows gravity to assist in discharging the water that is produced, resulting in a major improvement in water drainage, key to high-efficiency fuel stack performance. The result is stable power generation under a broad range of conditions, and higher output from a smaller package. Low-temperature startup has also been significantly improved, enabling cold-weather starts at temperatures 10oC lower than the current FCX -- as low as minus 30oC.

As an auxiliary power source, the FCX Concept carries a compact, high-efficiency lithium ion battery, contributing to increased power output and a more compact power plant. These efficiency improvements to major power plant components give the vehicle a travel range approximately 30 percent greater than the current FCX. The vehicle is also highly efficient, with an energy efficiency of around 60 percent -- approximately three times that of a gasoline-engine vehicle, twice that of a hybrid vehicle, and 10 percent better than the current FCX.

Other features include seat upholstery and door linings made from Honda Bio Fabric, a plant-based material that offers outstanding durability and resistance to sunlight damage. Other improvements such as Shift-by-Wire and a newly designed instrument panel with easy-to-read display of hydrogen fuel consumption facilitate improved ease of operation.

The new fuel cell vehicle currently under development for release in 2008, will feature the principle technologies of the FCX Concept to achieve a new dimension in environmentally friendly driving pleasure not found with gasoline-engine vehicles.

http://tinyurl.com/y6sgdw


Stack Layout Comparison
<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr align="center" valign="top"> <td>http://hondanews.com/media_storage/JPG/FCX_Concept_01.jpg</td> <td>http://hondanews.com/media_storage/JPG/FCX_Concept_02.jpg</td> </tr> <tr align="center" valign="top"> <td>New stack layout
(hydrogen and water flow vertically)</td> <td>Previous stack layout
(hydrogen and water flow horizontally)</td> </tr> </tbody></table> Specifications
<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr align="center"> <td colspan="2">Number of passengers</td> <td>4</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td rowspan="3">Motor</td> <td>Max. Output</td> <td>95kW (129PS)</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td>Max. Torque</td> <td>256N . m (26.1kg . m)</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td>Type</td> <td>AC synchronous motor (Honda mfg.)</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td rowspan="2">Fuel Cell Stack</td> <td>Type</td> <td>PEFC(proton exchange membrane fuel cell, Honda mfg.)</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td>Output</td> <td>100kW</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td rowspan="3">Fuel</td> <td>Type</td> <td>Compressed hydrogen</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td>Storage</td> <td>High-pressure hydrogen tank (350atm)</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td>Tank Capacity</td> <td>171l</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td colspan="2">Dimensions (L x W x H)</td> <td>4,760 x 1,865 x 1,445mm</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td colspan="2">Max. Speed</td> <td>160km/h</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td colspan="2">Energy Storage</td> <td>Lithium Ion Battery</td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td colspan="2">Vehicle Range*</td> <td>570km</td></tr></tbody></table>
Bronco_Beerslug
10-20-2006, 11:50 AM
And watching CNBC Honda says they will, in the near future, have a device that plugs into your house, heats it and fuels your car.
Mile High Shack
10-20-2006, 12:02 PM
yours for the low-low price of 45 grand
Taco John
10-20-2006, 12:13 PM
yours for the low-low price of 45 grand



It'll start there, but prices will get progressively lower. I don't see it bad as starting as a status thing, and then moving down among us common folk. That'll just help with demand.

Anything to take the US fork out of the OPEC mouth.
Billy Clyde Puckett
10-20-2006, 12:37 PM
Where will they be able to fill up with hydrogen? GM has some fuel cell test vehicles running around DC but they have to go to a couple of special fill stations. Also read something about a company in Texas that has developed an engine that uses some type of electric capacitor technology and can run the equivilent of 400 miles before a five minute recharging of some relatively small batteries.

Also of note, Honda, Toyota, Huynda and GM have been building new plants in the US over the last 2-3 years that are flexible enough to adapt quickly when some of this technology becomes generally available. In the older plants the assembly lines would need to be completely rebuilt.
Bronco_Beerslug
10-20-2006, 12:41 PM
Honda also unveiled its current model of the Home Energy Station (HES), a home cogeneration and fueling system that uses natural gas to supply electricity and heat in addition to hydrogen fuel for vehicles. The system is equipped with fuel cells that generate electricity (5 kW) for the home, and is configured to recover the heat produced during power generation for domestic water heating.
The HES can produce 3 Nm3/hr of hydrogen. In addition to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by some 40%, according to Honda’s calculations, the HES system is expected to lower by 50% the total running cost of household electricity, gas and vehicle fuel.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/honda-fcx-2006-03.gif
Of course natural gas (NG) is not ideal for environmental reasons, even if it is one of the cleaner-burning fossil fuels. Availability would also be a problem, especially in North-America where NG production is peaking and where the liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity is almost non-existent. But at least this system seems to make the most out of it and integrates well with a house - it could have been worse. Eventually hydrogen would have to be produced with clean energy (along with waste H2 (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/10/vancouver_2010.php)?) if fuel cell cars are to be used on a large scale.
Honda is listening:
One day Honda hopes to find a way to power cars with no emissions. "Ultimately, what we should aim for is to circulate zero-pollution energy through solar panels," Honda president Takeo ***ui told reporters.
"There are many methods (to achieve the goal). En route to that, we will use natural gas, which is conventional infrastructure, and gradually add use of solar-panel energy," he said.
bronclvr
10-20-2006, 01:32 PM
I only buy American-
Mile High Shack
10-20-2006, 01:52 PM
It'll start there, but prices will get progressively lower. I don't see it bad as starting as a status thing, and then moving down among us common folk. That'll just help with demand.

Anything to take the US fork out of the OPEC mouth.

I'd buy it in a heart beat if they let us common folk have a piece of the pie
broncocalijohn
10-20-2006, 02:15 PM
I hope something like this takes shape. Our Fuel savers in USA right now are mostly bought in Calif. These are normally very expensive and not many places to charge up. I would get the prius but my corolla wont die. 200k miles and still rolling. Cost factor between energy batteries and cost of oil. Many times it takes tooo many years to make it worth it. OPEC cuts 1.2 million barrels? This would help counter that if cost is low.
Bronco_Beerslug
10-20-2006, 03:07 PM
I hope something like this takes shape. Our Fuel savers in USA right now are mostly bought in Calif. These are normally very expensive and not many places to charge up. I would get the prius but my corolla wont die. 200k miles and still rolling. Cost factor between energy batteries and cost of oil. Many times it takes tooo many years to make it worth it. OPEC cuts 1.2 million barrels? This would help counter that if cost is low.

Costs are coming down some on alternative and renewable energies but government subsides and incentives would go a LONG way to accelerating our move away from terrorist oil.

I only buy American-
Really? Where do you buy your "American" cars from?
bronclvr
10-20-2006, 03:31 PM
Oh Please! Let's not go there-
enjolras
10-20-2006, 03:35 PM
I only buy American-

I buy the car that makes the most sense for my lifestyle. I'll let you know when an American manufacturer manages to do that.
The Lone Bolt
10-20-2006, 03:42 PM
Promising technology but I think the future is in electric cars. I'm very excited about the Toshiba nanomaterial batteries that charge fully in minutes. The fuel cell car requires electricity to be converted into hydrogen, and then back to electricity. Electric cars will be more direct and the infrastructure already exists.

Plus I am very interested in the Star Rotor engine and how that pans out.

As for the Texas company with the capacitor tech, anybody got a link?
Bronco_Beerslug
10-20-2006, 04:29 PM
Oh Please! Let's not go there-
Let's not go where? You mean you don't really buy American cars?
freak6
10-20-2006, 08:10 PM
Toyota's new engine is built in Tenn I think.
spdirty
10-20-2006, 09:05 PM
Looks like another gay spaceship. I'll stick with my F-250.
Rigs11
10-20-2006, 10:35 PM
Toyota's new engine is built in Tenn I think.

Nissans and toyotas are built here in the US.
Bronco_Beerslug
10-21-2006, 07:34 AM
Nissans and toyotas are built here in the US.
Most Chevy trucks are built in Canada and Mexico.
broncocalijohn
10-24-2006, 12:42 AM
Looks like another gay spaceship. I'll stick with my F-250.

I only will drive str8 looking spaceships. Where can i get a view of that one?
Spdirty, if it had flames would it be manly enough?