Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity - Jalopnik Comments

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

danio3834 — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:02:04 EST

@cgarison: And it will point finger at GM as the big bag corporation that killed it. Despite half a dozen other car companies who had them as well.

danio3834

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

superbmtsub — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:31:29 EST

@miken5678: Sorry Miken5678. Autoblog was over 2 days behind los jalops.

superbmtsub

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

miken5678 — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:10:47 EST

looks like auto blog beat you to it

[www.autobloggreen.com]

miken5678

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

takeshi — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:59:21 EST

@WheatKing: You'd think that they would have learned to not coat the skins of vehicles with aluminum oxide by now... :P

takeshi

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

BraappBraapp — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:39:02 EST

@jonnylieberman: Random no, coincidental, yes. Maybe it's the lack of small, controlled, preventive brush fires, or the influx of people into previously uninhabited areas. Hmm, no, it's global warming.
What a cop out.
Just like Katrina was a federal government ploy rather than a city/state corruption of funds.

BraappBraapp

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

TrackpediaCow — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:24:41 EST

Duh, global warming caused the arsonists to commit arson, I mean it's obvious...

Let's not forget that water vapor is a greenhouse gas too, just like CO2...

TrackpediaCow

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Muttonchops — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:13:49 EST

@WheatKing:

I used to have this same concern about more water vapor being pumped into our atmosphere from Hydrogen cars. I think any method should be looked at VERY closely for possible unforeseen effects. (I'm sure the creators of the internal combustion gasoline engine didn't think their invention would have global impact environmentally)

But with hydrogen combustion and water vapor, you have to realize two things.

1. Water Vapor is not the leading atmospheric contributor to global warming because of its warming ability but because of its QUANTITY. Any water vapor added from cars would be infinitessimal compared to the amount pumped into the atmosphere every day from millions of square miles of evaporating oceans.

2. Water vapor is a byproduct of ANY combustion, gasoline included, so there really wouldn't be much of a change if any from the amount of water vapor CURRENTLY being put into the air from gasoline vehicles.

That being said, I don't think the fires were "caused" by global warming. Any body who knows ANYTHING about science knows that correlation DOES NOT equal causation. Ever.

Muttonchops

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

superbmtsub — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 06:38:33 EST

@Galaxie500: I'm sure we'd all stop farting if we could.

superbmtsub

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

weatherman — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:06:06 EST

@Rishi: hydrogen has a much higher energy density than batteries, as evidenced by the range on this thing - 270 miles per tank vs the 100 or so miles that most all electrics seem to be limited to. Plus there's no recharge time. You can't just "fill" a battery in a few minutes. So there are advantages to hydrogen in typical American use vs electics which are much better suited to short-range commuter travel or puttering around those tiny European countries.

weatherman

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Rishi — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 21:13:24 EST

@cgarison: I'm pretty sure the answer to that will be "the battery-powered car".

Rishi

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Ryan F — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 10:54:00 EST

You were right by my school!

Ryan F

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

cgarison — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 23:12:05 EST

In ten years will we have a movie "Who Killed the Hydrogen Car?"

cgarison

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Fly I-80 — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 22:16:18 EST

Honda has been rolling around this concept for at least 10 years, and it still looks fantastic. I don't care if it runs on whale oil, it's impressive that the basic design of the FCX has aged and evolved so well. If anything the original FCX looked a little better, these front doors are too Priusy.

Fly I-80

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

trenace — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 18:50:40 EST

All it will take is another Ice Age -- which the experts were predicting not long ago and which in terms of the longterm cycle of the Earth's orbit is due and, furthermore, extensive volcanic eruption is completely unpredictable and can drop temperature -- and everyone will be sobbing how we didn't pump more CO2 into the air to help moderate it.

The Earth has many times including recently been hotter than it is now. Buy an inferior car if you like out of enviro-guilt, but seriously believing that MAYBE saving a couple tenths of a degree over the next few decades at a cost of trillions of dollars is a decidely odd view, more political than anything else.

You know, when Greenland was green, not so long in the past, Earth's weather was about or actually the best it's ever been in recorded history. We are still a lot colder than that, and -- over the last decade -- getting colder not hotter. (The warming trend does not include the last approximate 10 years despite CO2 going up, so go figure.)

trenace

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

newfmike — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 17:46:00 EST

@Galaxie500:
It does. Working with an atmospheric physics group, you tend to pick up a few things. Like the drought that the south west has been suffering since 1950-odd, and how increasing the average earth's temperature by even a degree can cause soil to dry and precipitation patterns to shift.

@WheatKing:

That's not entirely untrue. Water vapor is a major greenhouse gas in the upper atmosphere, and can probably have an effect on the the amount and severity of bad air days.

newfmike

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there! — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 14:12:11 EST

It's clearly awesome, and, yeah, mad props an' all, but by the time the concept becomes production viable the driving platform will be totally different.

So, a brilliant opportunity to drive a revolutionary concept, and I'm madly jealous. Of course, with the advancement of technology being as it is, production models will probably drive way better still.

What a mouthwatering idea.... Enjoy

Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there!

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

trenace — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 14:04:47 EST

Is it more weight-efficient than battery-powered?

I'm sure it's more weight-efficient than the old lead-acid efforts but don't know compared to the current batteries. Someone must?

And what would the weight efficiency be compared to the upcoming improved lithium-ion batteries, assuming the claimed large improvement occurs?

trenace

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Rishi — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 13:29:57 EST

I'm not sure I understand how this is more convenient than a battery-powered car. Aren't we more likely to see quick-recharge batteries and recharge stations along the highway than hydrogen refill stations? And doesn't electricity at least in theory offer the possibility of being totally carbon-free in the future? Granted, one could envision running these on hydrogen from electrolysis which would be a less efficient use of electricity but potentially carbon neutral aswell.

Rishi

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Scuba Steve — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 12:31:15 EST

Ugh, that down syndrome look that Honda puts on their new accords, civics, and now this, simply makes more people go out and get cars that do more than get you from point A to B.

Scuba Steve

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Clister — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 12:13:43 EST

"Global Warming's victim", WTF? It's donut holes like the author of this "article" that reminds you that half the people have an IQ of less than 100. Didn't bother to read the rest of the article as it is probably crap.

Clister

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Beluga — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 11:30:31 EST

The "fires a result of global warming" angle isn't working for me. I do think the "flaming disaster" angle is better considering the fuel source and all . . .

Beluga

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Turboner — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 11:28:44 EST

@jonnylieberman: Sean Hannity told me Global Warming was one of those "victimless crimes." You know, like drug use.

Seriously, nice score, though. Like Spence said, you should throw a splash of it's exhaust into a few fingers of good scotch and have yourself a poignant moment.

How long until we have photosynthesis-powered, nanomachine-based, molecular disassemblers to provide us with an economical, unlimited source of hydrogen? Or dietary supplements that let us fart it out into balloons?

Turboner

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Shapeshifter — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 09:43:19 EST

"Oh yeah, almost forgot. Honda tossed us the keys to their multi-million dollar pre-production baby..."

Wow, do they know who you are? Like... did they read the website? Or did they mistake you for some other, more respectable auto journalists?

@jonnylieberman:

To be honest, if you're looking for an example i suggest the sudden melting of the various icy/snowing parts of the globe. Does not bode well for us, unfortunately.

Shapeshifter

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Unregular — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 09:28:14 EST

@Galaxie500: These are all very good points..

Unregular

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Daga — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 08:01:29 EST

Alright, I'm officially jealous.

I second the props to both you guys for getting to this stage, and Honda for lending the car to you (I assume they did and you didn't just sit in the back seat while Dan Neil drove)

Daga

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Mike Spinelli — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 07:27:22 EST

@Gautch: It must be huge. Gautch hasn't chimed in since, what? 1968?

Mike Spinelli

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

sos10 — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 07:12:14 EST

I'm jealous, this car is revolutionary and you test drove it!

sos10

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Galaxie500 — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 03:30:32 EST

Ya Global Warming causes fires. WTF? Why don't you explain how hydrogen burns as a fuel instead of running your mouth. Stop farting so you won't contribute to the "problem" of a 1 degree temperature increase every 100 years..

Galaxie500

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

gamble — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 03:29:38 EST

@FuzzyPlushroom: I had the exact same thought about the Prius-Accord combo.

gamble

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Gautch — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 01:24:43 EST

Now this, is news!
Way to go Jalopnik!

Gautch

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Jalopnik = opportunists — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 01:18:52 EST

It's an ugly car with seventh generation Accord wheels; should sell nicely.

Jalopnik = opportunists

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Adamskiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiy — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 01:06:07 EST

"Hey, check out our new hydrogen-powered wagon.....just kidding, hatchback......but really, sedan.

Adamskiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiy

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Spence — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:38:03 EST

@ThnderbltDoherty: The man who wrote records like Nashville Skyline and Blood on the Tracks is no fucking folk musician.
@jonnylieberman: So. Damn. Jealous. If I drop by Mt. Washington and beg with puppy dog eyes, can I at least enjoy a cool, refreshing glass of its tailpipe emissions?

Spence

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

ThnderbltDoherty — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:05:01 EST

@Ray Wert: I'm proud of you guys. Seriously.

@bmoredlj: Yeah, I saw The Golden Age. Ick. As for I'm Not There, neither will I be, since I don't particularly care for folk music in general.

ThnderbltDoherty

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

FuzzyPlushroom — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:59:06 EST

Pretty sure this is what results when an Accord and a Prius mate. Cool technology though, looking forward to the full review.

FuzzyPlushroom

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

bmoredlj — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:57:27 EST

Wow, that's more than twice as much as the Fuel Cell Chevy Sequel, although there are two Sequels in eXistenZ. If they can get that into production by decade's end, then this Clarity'll have some good 'ol competition!

...both The Golden Age and the Dylan flick were pieces of s***. Blanchett should fire her agent and hire Dame Helen Mirren's instead, before she gets cast in Beowulf 2 (or Saw V).

bmoredlj

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:45:17 EST

@WheatKing: You are crazy.

Jonny Lieberman

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

WheatKing — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:40:41 EST

call me crazy.. but isn't a bunch of cars spewing low level water vapor gonna trap industrial pollutants, hence more smog days?

I can only imagine what a traffic jam of these would be like in the downtown on a day with no wind. Other than that, congrats on getting to test a modern day wheeled hindenburg

WheatKing

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Ray Wert — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:37:27 EST

@ThnderbltDoherty: Ah yes, back in the day...

Ray Wert

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

elwood — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:36:51 EST

This is a pretty sweet test drive. Mad props, Jalopnik.

elwood

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

ThnderbltDoherty — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:27:44 EST

Ah, I remember at time when Jalopnik had to settle for press releases cribbed from other websites and now they get the keys to hydrogen-powered miracle machines. As that guy that Cate Blanchett's playing said, the times they are a-changin'.

ThnderbltDoherty

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 22:52:53 EST

@TRAMS_AM: Right, stupid me. Seven of the 10 busiest fire seasons have been since 1999 because of pure random chance. And Jane Fonda.

Jonny Lieberman

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

TRAMS_AM — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 22:50:00 EST

The globe does tend to get warm when it's ablaze. But the Malibu fire was caused by downed power lines, no?

TRAMS_AM

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

dculberson — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 22:40:15 EST

Being a Honda, I'm going to lay down a bet that it's more fun to drive than a Prius.

dculberson

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 21:49:56 EST

@akirachan: Monday hombre, Monday

Jonny Lieberman

Preview: Jalopnik Drives the Honda FCX Clarity

akirachan — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 21:44:12 EST

So how did feel the first time? I forgot to mention earlier but I love the design of the car!

akirachan