Honda's LA Auto Show FCEV Concept Lightly Hints at FCX Replacement [Updated]

We don’t want you to get your hopes high, so we’ll just tell you off the bat that, we highly doubt Honda’s production version of the new mid-sized FCEV Concept that made its world premiere today at the Los Angeles Auto Show will look anything like this. It may keep some general lines and shapes, but unfortunately, it won’t be as cool as this study.

Nevertheless, Honda does play the promotion game stating that the FCEV points towards the fuel-cell powered replacement to the FCX Clarity scheduled for launch in the U.S. and Japan in 2015, followed by Europe.

“The Honda FCEV Concept hints at Honda’s future direction for fuel-cell vehicles,” said Tetsuo Iwamura, president and CEO of American Honda. “While this car is a concept, it points toward a very real future.”

According to Honda, the five-passenger model sports a new hydrogen fuel cell system with “significant technological advancements” to the fuel-cell stack allowing for more than 100kW (+134hp) of output. The power density now stands at 3kW/L, an increase of 60 percent over the FCX, while at the same time, the stack size is reduced by 33-percent.

Honda anticipates the production model to deliver a driving range of more than 300 miles with a quick refueling time of about three minutes, compared to the FCX Clarity’s 240 mile (386 km) range.

“The Honda FCEV Concept not only sets our direction for our next generation fuel-cell vehicle in 2015, but for future improvements in electric drive technology,” said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of American Honda. “The advancements we are making are substantial, meaningful and very real.”

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