2005 Honda FCX Concept

The FCX boasts a fuel cell system that delivers more power in less space, in a unique, low-floor fuel cell platform. It’s a next-generation sedan with a low center of gravity and a full-sized cabin, offering the kind of driving pleasure and roomy interior previously unimaginable in a fuel cell vehicle.

The FCX Concept drive train features three energy-efficient motors–one in the front and two in the rear. The efficient delivery of this power through all four wheels and the low-center-of-gravity platform combine to deliver torquey performance and agile handling.

In addition to brakes, each of the rear wheels contains a thin, eccentric 25kW motor. This space-efficient layout contributes to the efficiency of the low-floor design, eliminating the need to use floor space for the motors.

Honda’s 3V system—vertical gas flow, vertebral layout, and volume-efficient packaging makes possible the lowest-floor platform in a fuel cell vehicle ever. Oxygen and hydrogen flow from the top to the bottom of the fuel cell stack (vertical gas flow) and the fuel cells are arranged vertically in the center tunnel (vertebral layout) for new, high-efficiency fuel cell packaging (volume efficiency). In addition, the front end of the vehicle has been shortened by aligning the front drive motor with the gearbox.

Compact enough to fit neatly into the center tunnel but robust enough to output 100kW of power, Honda’s V Flow fuel cell stack offers both space efficiency and high energy output. The key to fuel cell performance is water management. With vertical gas flow, an innovative process in which oxygen and hydrogen flow downward through the stack, Honda’s new fuel cell stack takes full advantage of gravity to efficiently discharge water formed during electricity generation. This improves system performance in sub-zero temperatures, achieving a new level of system reliability. The problem of cold-weather startup had been a key obstacle to the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles. In 2003, Honda solved the problem with the introduction of the Honda FC Stack, the world’s first fuel cell that can be used at temperatures as low as –20C. Now, with the V Flow fuel cell stack Honda has achieved ultra-low-temperature start-up performance on par with that of a gasoline engine.

Luxurious seating takes full advantage of the generous cabin space, providing passengers with a comfortable experience. Contrasting materials, from transparent plastics to classic leather and wood, combine to produce a welcoming interior with an advanced feel. Intriguing elements like an instrument panel that appears to float in space, an interactive floor that uses lighting to indicate changes in cabin temperature, and premium reclining shell-like seats and foot rests in the rear make passengers feel right at home.

Story by Honda, edited by Supercars.net

In Detail

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