The Honda Clarity is a nameplate used by Honda on alternative fuel vehicles. It was initially used only on hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles such as the 2008 Honda FCX Clarity, but in 2017 the nameplate was expanded to include the battery-electric Honda Clarity Electric and the plug-in hybrid electric Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, in addition to the next generation Honda Clarity Fuel Cell. Clarity production ended in August 2021 with US leases for the fuel cell variant continuing through to 2022. As of 2025, the Honda Clarity (2016-2021) is the last known production car to feature fixed rear Wheel Skirts.
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Honda FCX Clarity (2008–2014)
History
The Honda FCX Clarity is based on the 2006 Honda FCX Concept and only available as a hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle. The FCX Clarity had electric car qualities such as zero emissions while offering five minute refueling times and long range in a full function large sedan. It was the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle available to retail customers.
Production began in June 2008 with leasing in the U.S. commenced in July 2008. It was introduced in Japan in November 2008. The FCX Clarity was available for lease in the U.S., Japan and Europe. In the U.S., it was only available to customers who live in Southern California where several hydrogen fuel stations are available. FCX Clarity were leased for a month in 2010, including collision coverage, maintenance, roadside assistance and hydrogen fuel.
Specifications
The FCX Clarity electrical power comes from a 100kW Honda Vertical Flow (V Flow) hydrogen fuel cell stack whereby electricity is supplied on demand. In common with many electric vehicles, the car has regenerative braking and uses a separate battery to store energy recovered during braking.
The electric motor is based on the motor used in the EV Plus, rated at and torque at 03056rpm. The range on a full hydrogen tank of 4.1kg at is EPA certified at . The vehicle is estimated to get about per kilogram of hydrogen in the city, per kilogram highway and per kilogram in combined driving.
Design
The FCX Clarity is about shorter than a 2008 Honda Accord. The display in the dashboard includes a dot that changes color and size as hydrogen consumption grows, to make it easier for the driver to monitor their driving efficiency. A separate display shows the battery power level and another shows motor output. A speedometer is placed above the cockpit display to make it easy for the driver to keep eyes on the road. In the interior, upholstery on the seats and door linings are made with Honda's plant-derived Bio-Fabric.
Production
The FCX Clarity was produced in Japan at a dedicated fuel-cell-vehicle assembly line in the Honda Automobile New Model Center (Takanezawa-machi, Shioya-gun, Tochigi Prefecture). The fuel cell stack itself is produced at Honda Engineering Co., Ltd. (Haga-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture).
It is reported that Honda plans to offer hydrogen fuel cell vehicle at costs competitive with gasoline mid-size cars by 2020 although its 2005 hand-built predecessor to the Clarity cost about $1 million.
Features
The FCX Clarity's features include an AM-FM car radio with CD player, integration for iPod and iPhone, a USB port, auxiliary input, a voice-activated GPS navigation system, XM satellite radio, cloth seating surfaces, Bluetooth, and digital instrumentation.
Reception
Since the car's unveil at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, it was reported in May 2008 there were 50,000 people inquiring about the car through its Web site. In November 2015, Honda unveiled the Clarity Fuel Cell at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show and announced a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant. In April 2016, Honda announced that the Clarity Plug-In variant would be released in 2017 and also a Clarity Battery Electric (BEV) variant. Each drive-train variant is distinguished by a unique "hero color" and different front styling, headlights, and taillights.
US sales peaked in 2018, the Clarity's first full year of sales, when just over 20,000 units (all variants) were registered, but dropped steadily and only 2,597 Claritys were delivered in 2021. In June 2021, Honda announced that production of the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid and Clarity Fuel Cell would end in August 2021 with Honda's Sayama plant scheduled to close in March 2022.
Fuel Cell
Retail deliveries of the 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell began in Southern California in December 2016. The Clarity Fuel Cell, with range of , had the highest EPA driving range rating of any zero-emissions vehicle in the U.S., including fuel cell and battery electric vehicles, The 2017 Clarity also has the highest combined and city fuel economy ratings among all hydrogen fuel cell cars rated by the EPA, with a combined city/highway rating of 67 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe), and 68 MPGe in city driving.
{| class=" wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
! Vehicle || Model year|| Combined <br>fuel economy || City <br>fuel economy || Highway<br>fuel economy||Range
|- style="text-align:center;"
| align="left" | Honda FCX Clarity
|2014|| 59 mpg-e|| 58 mpg-e|| 60 mpg-e ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| align="left" |Honda Clarity Fuel Cell
|2017|| 67 mpg-e|| 68 mpg-e|| 66 mpg-e||
|}