Honda Puts A Price On Its 2016 Clarity Fuel Cell Car

Honda has priced up its Clarity FCV fuel-cell car, though big questions abound about the hydrogen-powered sedan. Set to go up for lease in a single market – if you guessed California, you're not wrong – before the end of the year, the Clarity Fuel Cell has seemingly taken its lead from Toyota's existing hydrogen car.

The Toyota Mirai began shipping to customers back in October 2015, and is also only available to lease. It has a sticker of $57,500, with a three year leasing period of $499 per month.

Honda, meanwhile, says that the Clarity Fuel Cell will be priced around $60,000 and that their target lease would come in at under $500 a month.

Unsurprisingly the Clarity is expected to be a rare sight on roads. Honda is predicted "limited volumes" initially, and they'll be clustered around "certified fuel cell vehicle dealers" based in Los Angeles and Orange counties, as well as in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento.

That's almost certainly a reaction to the limited hydrogen refueling infrastructure, which has also kept the Mirai's roll-out fairly minimal.

However, Honda says it does expect sales of cars to come along in due course, as well as broader availability when places to fill the car up increase too.

In the meantime, the new 2017 Accord Hybrid – based on the gas-powered 2016 Accord we drove recently – will arrive in the spring of 2016.

NOW READ: We tried Honda's Clarity FCV

Honda is also using the same Clarity platform for a new plug-in hybrid – currently unnamed – which is expected to launch sometime in 2018.

Like the Mirai, the only waste product the Clarity Fuel Cell releases is water. A full recharge of its hydrogen tanks is expected to take around five minutes, while the car should have a range in excess of 300 miles.

SOURCE Honda