Hydrogen-powered Honda FCV unveiled

Honda has unveiled a new Fuel Cell Vehicle concept in Japan which is expected to hit Japanese showrooms by March 2016. Honda plans to launch the model in North America and European markets as well in future.

This FCV, is a successor to Honda’s first Hydrogen fuel-cell powered offering, the FCX Clarity and was last seen as an early-stage concept at the LA Auto show last year. The Honda FCV looks closer to production and has shed come of the concept styling bits as seen in the model shown last year, most notably its rear-wheel covers.

The FCV is powered by an electric motor which is good for more than 134bhp, while the power density has been upped by 60 percent over that of its predecessor, the FCX. The FCV’s fuel stack size has also been reduced by a good 33 percent.

Honda has earlier claimed that the FCV is the first vehicle of its type to feature an entire fuel-cell powertrain packaged within its engine bay. Honda says, the FCV should give a driving range of around 482km and can be re-fuelled from hydrogen filling station in 3-5 minutes.

The FCV will face competition from Toyota's own fuel-cell vehicle, which carries the Mirai name and will arrive in Europe next summer, as well as Hyundai's hydrogen-powered ix35.