Clarity Fuel Cell.

Discussion in 'Clarity' started by JyChevyVolt, May 21, 2018.

  1. JyChevyVolt

    JyChevyVolt Active Member

    I'm looking to lease the fuel cell tomorrow.

    Questions
    1. Is the 366 mile range realistic? From Hollywood station to Harris ranch is 227 miles. Do you think the fuel cell can make that trip.

    If I can get to Harris ranch then San Francisco, Yosemite, and lake Tahoe are all within reach. I can even get to Oregon by renting a car in Sacramento.

    2. The Avis car rental a easy process or filled with hidden cost.

    3. How much did insurance cost increased?
     
  2. TeslaInvestors

    TeslaInvestors Active Member

    Mod/OP,
    Please delete this and merge with the other thread with exactly same title.
    https://insideevsforum.com/community/index.php?threads/clarity-fuel-cell.1156/

    1. Answered there. See last post.
    2. Easy. You get an email after about 2-3 weeks. You save the email, and click the link to book. It goes to special booking site that shows credit of 21 days. But here are the catches:
    a) Can only book inside California. I was thinking, I fly to anywhere in US and rent from Avis. But that isn't allowed. I tried Las Vegas, won't let me book. But works for all California locations.
    b) I was thinking, I could book corvettes etc. But nope. It says. premium sedans/SUVs, general choice. Can't pick exact car. Mostly limited to sedans and SUVs.

    3. My increase is about $500 for 6 months for 2 drivers, no points in last 7 years, etc. But I am keeping both of my previous cars. The Clarity is now the main commuter car.
     
  3. JyChevyVolt

    JyChevyVolt Active Member

    Great, didn't know we had fuel cell thread already.

    My mom will drive the fuel cell, mon-fri (50-150 miles total). We will trade our Clarity electric with her fuel cell every weekend to go camping and touring. Return the car full.
     
  4. TeslaInvestors

    TeslaInvestors Active Member

    Well, you should fill up the Clarity fuel cell whenever below 100 miles of range, definitely when below 50. You never know. Some station might malfunction or be out of H2. I went to the Air Linde station in San Ramon last week on my way back from Sacramento (first time I visited an Air Linde) and it wasn't working, even though cafcp.org showed it is online. A MIrai owner was calling their helpline. I didn't wait, headed further down to Fremont which worked rpfectly.

    Always check cafcp.org before headint to a station. Too bad the latest status is not incorporated into the H2 map in the built in GPS.

    Camping/Touring: Just beware that the trunk is smaller than what you will ordinarily find in gas cars this size due to the tank right behind the back seat. Also, the rear seats don't fold down for the same reason. Other than that, it's a nice ride and acceleration is brisk with plenty of power. I test drove the Mirai too, and found that lacking in power when merging into the freeways.
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2018
  5. JyChevyVolt

    JyChevyVolt Active Member

    I carry very little during our camping trips. Just tent, inflatable bed and blank.

    If you stuck because the station is offline, can you quickly get a rental from Avis?
     
  6. TeslaInvestors

    TeslaInvestors Active Member

    I think not, but I've no experience.
    It will be faster to just wait and call the number. If it has run out of hydrogen, some truck should come to fill it up quickly.
    I'd assign ~1% chance of this happening. Again, I have no experience. Where exactly are you planning to fill? If within Los Angeles or SF bay area, there are now quite a few stations, so if one is down, you can just drive to the other.
    Only the Harris Ranch station is crucial, and I think they should keep it always up for the sake of hydrogen cars.

    BTW, there isn't much of luck needed to drive a H2 car. Driving a hydrogen car is too uneventful compared to driving electric cars. Only the good driving experience stands out.
     
  7. JyChevyVolt

    JyChevyVolt Active Member

    Harris ranch, Santa Barbara and lake Tahoe are the ones I'm worried about. We have lots of fuel station in Southern California.

    I hope we get some stations in Redding, Eureka, Fresno, Bakersfield, Salinas, and San Luis Obispo. That should cover all the National Parks in California.
     
    Johnhaydev likes this.

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