"We finally have a compelling product that not only clears all of the previous technical hurdles like driving range, weight and packaging, but now delivers dynamic styling, four doors, great ride quality, and all this — at a retail level," commented Fukui.
Business owner Jon Spallino, one of the three specially selected initial customers — and who was the world's first fuel-cell car customer having leased the previous FCX — said today that "the new FCX is very stylish and no longer looks like a toaster. And it drives superbly. Also, for someone with kids like me, it has four doors now, and that makes a huge difference for everyday use." He will not be the first to take delivery, though. Film producer Ron Yerxa, was selected as top batter and will receive his car in July. Paying a leasing fee of $600 a month for the privilege, Spallino and the third recipient, actress Laura Harris, will pick up their Claritys in the next few months, according to Honda.
Over the next 12 months, several dozen units will be delivered to specially selected clients in Southern California — and in Japan — who have suitable ZIP codes, in close proximity to hydrogen refueling stations. "We want people from all walks of life to experience this vehicle, and give us the necessary feedback to further the fuel-cell cause," said Project Chief Engineer Sachito Fujimoto. Honda plans to build 200 Claritys over the next three years.
The Japanese company has been able to achieve this milestone in fuel-cell car production thanks to significant advances in the specialized technologies involved. With curb weight down to that of a current V6 Accord but sitting on a unique platform, the FCX Clarity is a hydrogen-powered technological tour de force. Engineers have increased driving range by 30 percent up to 280 miles, added 25 percent to the fuel economy reaching 74 mpg, have significantly downsized the fuel-cell stack but raised its power output by 50 percent, and have even recalibrated the electric motor — over the FCX prototype — to generate 8 percent more power, now delivering 134 hp. That propels the car from zero to 60 mph in around 8.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 100 mph.
Fukui says that he plans to bring a fuel-cell vehicle to mass production by 2016. If the technology keeps advancing at this rate and material and development costs can continue to come down — from the estimated $1 million per current FCX Clarity, "then we might be looking at a viable hydrogen-powered vehicle for the mass market at the price of a luxury car within eight to 10 years." And if current hydrogen station and dealer network developments are any indication, the infrastructure to support such vehicles would have kept pace, too.
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“我们终于有了一款引人注目的产品，不仅跨越了所有当前的技术障碍比如行驶距离，重量和空间，而且提供了动感的外形，四门和极高的乘坐品质；所有的一切都可以零售。”Fukui发表评论。
三位特别挑选出的首批客户之一，也是世界上首辆燃料电池车客户已经租赁了当前的FCX的企业所有人Jon Spallino今天说到：“新款FCX非常时尚且看上去不再像个烤面包机。它的驾驶性能很出色。并且对于像我这样有孩子的人来说，现在的四门FCX在日常的使用中取得了巨大的改变。”不过，他并不是首个提货的客户。电影制片人Ron Yerxa 被选为第一个提货者，他将会在七月收到这款车。据本田的消息，Spallino 和第三个客户，女演员 Laura Harris 为了得到这样的殊荣支付了600美元每月的租赁费，他们将在接下来的几个月里面得到他们的车。
在未来12个月内，几十辆车将交付给特别选定的在南加州-以及日本-有合适的邮递区号而且极接近氢加油站的客户。 “我们希望各阶层人士试驾这辆车，并给予我们必要的反馈以求进一步加强燃料电池的部分”项目总工程师Sachito Fujimoto说到。本田计划在未来三年内制造出200辆。
日本公司由于在所涉及到的专门技术中取得了重大进展，在燃料电池汽车生产上达到了一个里程碑。减重到目前的V6协议但是有一个独特的平台，FCX是一项氢气动力技术的力作。工程师们将行驶距离提高了30%到280公里，燃料节约了25%至74mpg，大大缩小了燃料电池堆但将它的输出功率提高了50%，甚至宰FCX原型车基础上重新校准了电动机以多产生了8%的动力，目前可以提供134马力。从0加速到60英里每小时只需要8.5秒左右，最高时速可达100英里每小时。
Fukui说：“他计划到2016年将批量生产燃料电池汽车。如果技术能够按照这样的速度发展下去并且材料和开发成本从开始估计的1，000，000美元一辆FCX继续降低，那么我们可能会在未来的8到10年内看到一辆可行的价格相当于一辆豪华轿车的大众化的氢气动力汽车。目前的氢气站和经销商的不断发展表明，支持燃料电池车的基础设施也会跟上节奏不断发展。
