Abstract
To assist in combating global warming and to respond to energy issues, Honda has developed the FCX Clarity, a new fuel cell vehicle that displays significant improvements in driving performance and fuel efficiency against previous FCX Models, and which achieves a level of appeal unrivalled by reciprocating engine vehicles. The key to the development of the new vehicle was the reduction of the size and weight of the fuel cell powertrain. Honda’s unique V Flow FC stack technology is the core of the FCX Clarity’s fuel cell powertrain. A considerable reduction in size and weight and increased power have been achieved, with the powertrain as a whole displaying a weight output density that is 2X higher and volume output density 2.2X higher than that of the previous FCX. The maximum power of the V Flow FC stack employed in the Clarity has been increased to 100 kW. The new FC stack also achieves a 50% increase in volume output density and 67% increase in weight output density against the previous stack. Low-temperature start performance has also been significantly improved, with the vehicle able to be started at -30 °C. A new design has increased the maximum power of the drive motor to 100 kW and resulted in the achievement of a smooth, powerful and continuously extendable acceleration feel. Increased efficiency in the powertrain and superior energy management have enabled the realization of an energy efficiency of 60%, resulting in a level of fuel efficiency 2.1X higher than that of a small gasoline vehicle and 1.4X higher than that of a small hybrid vehicle.
Highlights
Honda first introduced the environmentallyfriendlier FCX fuel cell vehicle to the Japanese and U.S markets in 2002 [1]
The result of the development of an all-new powertrain for the FCX has been the debut of the FCX Clarity, the new model fuel cell vehicle that is introduced in this paper
The following development objectives were established in order to manifest the new commercial appeal and new value that is able to be realized by the FCX Clarity, because it employs a fuel cell powertrain: (1) Realization of an appealing vehicle design
Summary
Honda first introduced the environmentallyfriendlier FCX fuel cell vehicle to the Japanese and U.S markets in 2002 [1]. The FCX fuel cell powertrain was subject to a thoroughgoing re-examination in order to achieve a further evolution of the vehicle’s performance and to increase its commercial appeal. This re-examination indicated that the reduction of the size of the powertrain would be the key to enabling maximal exploitation of the high degree of freedom in layout, which is one of the major characteristics of the fuel cell system. Driving distance and refuel time are issues that fuel cell vehicles share with vehicles using electric drives, and this paper will compare the Clarity’s performance in these areas with that of an electric vehicle, based on the latest battery technology
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