Honda FCX Fuel Cell cost?

Question

I was wondering if Honda has made public the cost of their fuel cells for their FCX? There has been a lot of chatter about the cost of these cells ranging from about that of a gasoline to 10x the cost. Anyone have a link that says for sure? I know they are just leasing the cars now, but I wonder if there is a cost estimate for what they would cost if there were selling them.

Answer 1

I haven't seen any reports of what the fuel cell costs but you can bet its probably far more expensive than anything else they are building.

Pretty much Honda is willing to lose huge amounts of money on each of these cars they make because its a research project.  These people are just doing Honda's testing for them.

FCX Clarity

The FCX Clarity is a next-generation, zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle based on the entirely new Honda V Flow fuel cell platform, and powered by the highly compact, efficient and powerful Honda V Flow fuel cell stack. Featuring tremendous improvements to driving range, power, weight and efficiency - and boasting a low-slung, dynamic and sophisticated appearance, previously unachievable in a fuel cell vehicle - the FCX Clarity marks the significant progress Honda continues to make in advancing the real-world performance and appeal of the hydrogen-powered fuel cell car.

American Honda plans to lease the FCX Clarity to a limited number of retail consumers in Southern California with the first deliveries taking place in summer 2008. Full details of the lease program will be set closer to launch, but current plans call for a three-year lease term with a price of $600 per month.

American Honda is also developing a service infrastructure that provides customers with the best balance of convenience and the highest quality of service. When the FCX Clarity requires periodic maintenance, customers will simply schedule a visit with their local Honda dealer. American Honda will transport the vehicle to its fuel cell service facility, located in the greater Los Angeles area, where all required work will be performed. At the completion of the work, the customer will pick up their car from the dealer.

The FCX Clarity utilizes Honda's V Flow stack in combination with a new compact and efficient lithium ion battery pack and a single hydrogen storage tank to power the vehicle's electric drive motor. The fuel cell stack operates as the vehicle's main power source. Hydrogen combines with atmospheric oxygen in the fuel cell stack, where chemical energy from the reaction is converted into electric power used to propel the vehicle. Additional energy captured through regenerative braking and deceleration is stored in the lithium ion battery pack, and used to supplement power from the fuel cell, when needed. The vehicle's only emission is water. The FCX Clarity's revolutionary new V Flow platform packages the ultra-compact, lightweight and powerful Honda V Flow fuel cell stack (65 percent smaller than the previous Honda FC stack) in the vehicle's center tunnel, between the two front seats. Taking advantage of a completely new cell configuration, the vertically-oriented stack achieves an output of 100 kilowatts (kW) (versus 86kW in the current Honda FC stack) with a 50 percent increase in output density by volume (67 percent by mass). Its compact size allows for a more spacious interior and more efficient packaging of other powertrain components, which would otherwise be unattainable in a sleek, low-slung sedan. Honda introduced the FCX Clarity at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

Honda is a leader in the development of leading-edge technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions, including advanced gasoline engines, gasoline-electric hybrids, natural gas-powered engines, and hydrogen fuel cells.

Answer 2

We can only go by what similar cars were projected to cost.  One rumor mill had a hollywood star buying one for over $100,000.  Honda won't say either, why should they?  Toyota has a Fuel Cell car for lease in Japan, see below.  I can't believe the cost, it says $7,684 / month.  I have to believe that may be per year.

As for the fuel, Honda will sell or lease a Hydrogen generator for your house.  It will be connected to your natural gas supply.  So your car will not pollute going down the road, it will pollute while being filled at your house.  The cost per mile will be about the same as with a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic, so there is no savings.