Customer deliveries of Honda’s third-generation fuel cell vehicle, the 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, have begun at some dealerships in Southern California. The Clarity Fuel Cell has the highest EPA driving range of any zero-emission vehicle in America, including all fuel cell and battery electric vehicles, at 366 miles and a fuel economy rating of 68 combined MPGe (miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent).
Retail leasing of the Clarity Fuel Cell is available through Honda’s network of 12 approved dealerships, including six dealerships in Southern California, five in the Bay Area, and one in Sacramento. Honda will expand its fuel cell vehicle dealer network as the network of public hydrogen fueling stations expands across the state.
“In the year ahead, we will continue the roll-out of the new Clarity series of electrified vehicles, to include battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models,” said Steve Center, vice president of the Environmental Business Development Office at American Honda Motor Company.
California has approved a plan to develop up to 100 hydrogen refueling stations in the state during the next several years. This California initiative dovetails with some increased government support of hydrogen infrastructure development at the federal level, such as H2USA (http://h2usa.org/). The California Energy Commission awarded $44.5 million for the development of 28 new hydrogen stations (plus one mobile fueler), bringing the total number of hydrogen fueling stations (open, in-development, and proposed) to more than 50 stations promised soon.
The Clarity Fuel Cell is available for what looks to be a competitive introductory lease price of $369 a month for 36 months with $2,868 due at signing. The lease terms include a mileage allowance of 20,000 miles per year, up to $15,000 of hydrogen fuel, up to 21 days of an Avis Luxury Rental in California, 24/7 roadside assistance, and eligibility for California “White Sticker” single occupant HOV access.
The 2017 Hyundai hydrogen-powered Tucson fuel cell has carry over pricing at $499 a month. Customers in Southern and Northern California need a down payment of $2,999. They also get unlimited complimentary hydrogen refueling and “At Your Service Valet Maintenance” at no extra cost. The Toyota Mirai is also on sale now in California at a reduced $349 a month with $2,499 due at lease signing.
The first six customers of the 2017 Clarity Fuel Cell are previous owners of Honda’s second-generation fuel cell vehicle, the Clarity FCX. These customers have grown with the development and deployment of Honda’s fuel cell vehicles, and have provided feedback of their real-world use of the FCX.
The customers are:
- Jon Spallino, private securities investor and world’s first fuel cell vehicle individual customer with the 2005 FCX, whose new Clarity Fuel Cell becomes his third Honda fuel cell vehicle
- Jack Cusick, assistant principal of Newport Harbor High School
- Jackie Keller, founder of NutriFit healthy meal services
- Jim Salomon, president at Questar Construction
- Karen Thorp, deputy district attorney for the County of Los Angeles
- Terry Tamminen, CEO of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation
See:
- Fuel Cell Pricing Wars – 2017 Hyundai Tucson, Toyota Mirai
- Daimler and Honda Lead in Car Fuel Cell Development, Maybe
