Honda Motor Co announced on Thursday, April 21, that, by the end of 2017, it will launch three new environmentally friendly sedans in the United States. The three green car models will come under the Clarity name.
According to a report published by Reuters, through this move the Japanese automaker aims to boost green vehicle sales on the North American market. The Clarity name has been used so far for the FCX Clarity, Honda's hydrogen fuel cell car. The company has launched in Japan in March a totally new model called the Honda Fuel Cell. The environmental friendly car will be available in California late this year.
At a briefing in Detroit on Wednesday, April 20, John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda, declared that the Honda Fuel Cell will be followed in 2017 by the Clarity Electric and the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. Previously Honda mentioned that it would produce all three sedans, but did not give their names.
According to the same publication, all three five-passenger green cars models will be based on the same underpinning platform and will be imported to the U.S. from Japan. Honda plans to increase sales of green cars from 5 percent now to two-thirds by 2030, Honda Chief Executive Takahiro Hachigo previously declared in February.
Honda Motor's line of green cars includes fuel cell vehicles, fully electric, plug-in hybrids and hybrid cars. The company has been saying for years that fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are the best long-term alternative to diesel and gasoline-powered cars. However, until hydrogen filling stations proliferate, the development of FCVs will be limited.
According to Honda, the plug-in hybrid version will be available for purchase in all United States. As the number of electric-charging and hydrogen-filling stations increase, the electric and fuel cell Clarity models will begin sales in California and expand to other American states.
The publication Detroit Free Press reports that Honda's Clarity line of fuel-efficient cars could become a symbol of company's environmental aspirations. As explained by Mr. Mendel, the Clarity series will likely occupy a unique position in the market, providing a well-equipped, premium vehicle suitable to American customers' lifestyle needs.
