A Look at How Honda Is Growing the Clarity Family

The 2017 Honda Clarity is a new environmentally friendly vehicle, a sedan that runs on hydrogen fuel cells and produces water instead of the usual pollutants you get by burning gasoline. Since the infrastructure for hydrogen is small at the moment, the Clarity Fuel Cell is currently only available in Southern California.

However, in 2017, Honda will expand the Clarity family to include two other efficient alternatives: a plug-in hybrid and an electric vehicle. Between the three, environmentally conscious car buyers will have plenty of new options for when they need a new ride.

Clarity Fuel Cell

Hydrogen fuel cell technology has been around for decades, but pressurized hydrogen can be dangerous, and the technology to keep it safe has only recently become affordable. The reason for all this research and development is because hydrogen cars combine the best features of electric and gasoline: Hydrogen burns clean and powers an electric engine, and since it uses something more than a battery the Clarity has an EPA-estimated 366-mile range. That’s about equal to a normal gasoline car. Refilling the hydrogen tanks takes about as long as a gas tank, too.

Of course, the Clarity is more than just an engine. It features a very sharp and efficient exterior with modern features like full-LED headlights, uniquely designed wheel spokes that direct air to cool the brakes, and a completely electric gear selector with a power-enhancing Sport mode.

Clarity Electric

While the Clarity Fuel Cell has more advanced technology, the Clarity Electric can take advantage of the many charging stations popping up in public lots and private garages throughout the United States. Its numbers are nothing to sneeze at, either: The Clarity Electric offers 102 combined MPGe and delivers 221 pound-feet of torque instantly since electric motors don’t have to hit a certain rpm first.

The battery is compatible with DC Fast Charge, which means you can reach an 80 percent charge in just half an hour, and you only need three hours to top it off. The estimated range is only 80 miles, but this is because the Clarity is larger than the usual EV and Honda wants to keep the price reasonable.

Clarity Plug-In Hybrid

The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid runs on an engine that gives it 181 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque, and that’s just the electric motor. The Plug-In Hybrid can go an estimated 41 miles before it has to turn on the gas engine to recharge the battery, the second-best range of any plug-in hybrid on the market today. You also get features like Earth-friendly interior materials, a 3-D navigation system, and the Honda Sensing package of driver assistance technology.

With the new Clarity family of vehicles, Honda is expanding the vehicle market to include more alternate fuel options for drivers who don’t want to rely on gasoline alone. Between the efficient hybrids and plug-in hybrids, the well-established EVs, and the slowly growing interest in hydrogen fuel cells, gasoline is becoming a less important of America’s driving experience.
*Based on 2017 EPA range rating. Use for comparison purposes only. Your range will vary based on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, powertrain condition, and other factors.

Image via Pixabay

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