Clarity PHEV launched in Japan

[lordsutch]

Here's the link to the website: http://www.honda.co.jp/CLARITYPHEV/ (in Japanese, of course)

Working through Google Translate, I can't make out everything. However, I found several notable differences so far:

• There appears to be a CHAdeMO fast charging port on the driver's side (right in Japan) rear. It also includes a level 2 port in the PHEV's standard position (front left). Not surprising since CHAdeMO is very common in Japan for public charging.
• Cobalt Blue Pearl seems to be an available PHEV color in Japan, unlike in the U.S. (alas). The other color options seem to be the same as the U.S.
• It looks like the fuel cell model's air filtration system is included.
• The FCV's traffic sign recognition feature seems to be included too.
• There only seems to be one trim level, equivalent to Touring, but there's no Touring badge.
• Android Auto isn't advertised as a feature, but Apple CarPlay is. Maybe Android isn't big in Japan?

The infotainment system appears to be the same knobless design as on all previous models, and the Honda Sensing features appear to be the same as the U.S. model (except the sign recognition). No sign of the FCV's HUD.

Let the tea leaf reading for what this portends for a hypothetical North American 2019 model begin.

 

[bpratt]

Try this link using Google translate:
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://www.honda.co.jp/CLARITYPHEV/

 

[lorem101]

It mentioned a 101-114 km range! Do they have an upgraded battery?
The battery pic looks different too.

Edit: 17 kWh battery advertised!

 

[qtpie]

Wow, these cars are sold for 5,880,600 Japanese Yen? That's $52,296.18 USD (according to Google based on today's exchange rate):

 

[PHEV Newbie]

Wow, these cars are sold for 5,880,600 Japanese Yen? That's $52,296.18 USD (according to Google based on today's exchange rate):
View attachment 1612

Is this evidence that Honda sells the Clarity in the US/Canada at a loss? By comparison, the Honda Vezel with Honda Sensing is sold in Japan for 2075000 yen (US$18,455). The Vezel is called the HR-V in the US and the cheapest base LX 2WD (no Honda Sensing) is priced at $21,465. What this shows is that cars are not generally priced higher in Japan than they are in the US. It is then likely that the true selling price of the Clarity should be around US$52K.

 

[insightman]

Perhaps that's the same battery without the skin seen in previous photos. I doubt Honda would make 2 different 17 kWh batteries for this limited-production vehicle.

 

[dstrauss]

Maybe they snuck the BEV battery in the PHEV? Wouldn't that be awesome...NOPE - says 17kWh pack - maybe their test circuit uses less highway speeds

 

[insightman]

Maybe they snuck the BEV battery in the PHEV? Wouldn't that be awesome...NOPE - says 17kWh pack - maybe their test circuit uses less highway speeds

The BEV has another big block of batteries that occupies much of the trunk. Yes, the EPA's tests are more rigorous than those of Japan or the EU, which explains a greater range in other countries.

 

[Odobo]

Maybe they snuck the BEV battery in the PHEV? Wouldn't that be awesome...NOPE - says 17kWh pack - maybe their test circuit uses less highway speeds

I am guessing they just use the average mile per kWh to get that number instead. Unless they are advertising a 20 kWh battery as 17 kWh battery to get those extra miles...

 

[Hobbesgsr]

It mentioned a 101-114 km range! Do they have an upgraded battery?
The battery pic looks different too.

Edit: 17 kWh battery advertised!

It looks like they just removed the top cover of the battery.

 

[Hobbesgsr]

I didn't know the Clarity did this? Maybe only the Japanese version?

 

[Johnhaydev]

I suspect us regulations may prevent this from being available here.

 

[qtpie]

I didn't know the Clarity did this? Maybe only the Japanese version?
View attachment 1615

I have seen this feature on some models of Van and Truck in US.


Sent from my iPad using Inside EVs

 

[KentuckyKen]

I think Johnhaydev is right. My son ran into a DOT reg prohibiting amber lights being used for anything but turn signals when he was getting an off road bike made street legal.

 

[bpratt]

Perhaps that's the same battery without the skin seen in previous photos. I doubt Honda would make 2 different 17 kWh batteries for this limited-production vehicle.

It can't be the same battery we currently have in our Claritys because our batteries don't allow for a fast charge and one of the pictures shows a fast charge port on the right side of the vehicle. So here is my speculation: Honda has changed to the same battery technology that Tesla uses. Those batteries do allow for a fast charge and they also provide about 1.25 times the Watt hour/kg of weight. So if the batteries take up the same space, then there would be about 21 KWh of energy in the batterys with about 17 KWh of usable power.

 

[ab13]

It can't be the same battery we currently have in our Claritys because our batteries don't allow for a fast charge and one of the pictures shows a fast charge port on the right side of the vehicle. So here is my speculation: Honda has changed to the same battery technology that Tesla uses. Those batteries do allow for a fast charge and they also provide about 1.25 times the Watt hour/kg of weight. So if the batteries take up the same space, then there would be about 21 KWh of energy in the batterys with about 17 KWh of usable power.

Clarity EV has fast charging, it appears to be the same battery but with an extra pack.

 

[bpratt]

Clarity EV has fast charging, it appears to be the same battery but with an extra pack.

Fast charging for a LI battery is considered to be able to charge the battery to 80% in 20 minutes or less. The Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide batteries use in the Clarity don't allow that. The Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide batteries used in the Tesla do.

 

[insightman]

Fast charging for a LI battery is considered to be able to charge the battery to 80% in 20 minutes or less. The Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide batteries use in the Clarity don't allow that. The Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide batteries used in the Tesla do.

So the Clarity PHEV and BEV cars don't use the same battery chemistry?

 

[ab13]

Fast charging for a LI battery is considered to be able to charge the battery to 80% in 20 minutes or less. The Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide batteries use in the Clarity don't allow that. The Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide batteries used in the Tesla do.

The Tesla supercharger has a lot faster rate than the base Chademo rate. The outlander phev has Chademo, and it doesn't appear to use aluminum in the battery that I could determine from searching . I don't know if the Clarity battery info had been noted anywhere.

 

[mcdull]

Perhaps that's the same battery without the skin seen in previous photos. I doubt Honda would make 2 different 17 kWh batteries for this limited-production vehicle.

Honda could have included 17kWh for NA Clarity for maxing tax credit incentives but also lower cost compared to larger or different battery of its Japanese version.