Why Did Honda Discontinue The Clarity?

Although the Honda Clarity Electric’s all-electric model showed promise, it was abandoned in 2020. It might be because the lease option was restricted to California and Oregon only. Its comparatively short range of distance on the battery might be another factor. The Clarity Electric, created by Honda, has a limited driving range of 89 miles.

According to Car and Driver, the Clarity Electric doesn’t even come close to competing when it comes to vehicles with 238 to 240 miles of range, such as the Chevy Bolt or the Tesla Model 3. Many more of these EVs with respectable ranges are now on the automotive market. If the Clarity Electric was still in existence, it would need to have made significant advancements to remain competitive.

Honda decided to stop producing the Clarity’s electric variant because it wants to concentrate more on the proposed electric vehicles it is currently developing. In the upcoming several years, it intends to introduce more EV vehicles.

Will Honda take the place of Clarity?

  • Initially, an electric version of the Clarity was also offered, but that model was discontinued a year ago.
  • In August 2021, Honda will stop making the Clarity fuel-cell and plug-in hybrid cars.
  • According to Honda, the Clarity will continue to be leased through 2022.

Production of the Honda Clarity, which was initially offered as an EV, a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, and a plug-in hybrid, will come to an end in August 2021. Nikkei was the first to report the announcement, and Honda confirmed it to C/D. The hydrogen and PHEV variants will shortly be discontinued, after the removal of the EV version from the portfolio last year.

Honda may be ending production of the clarity plug-in hybrid.

Honda introduced the Clarity six years ago, and despite the fact that it will no longer be produced, Honda has not ruled out further research into hydrogen technology.

“Prior to the release of our first mass-market BEV vehicles in 2024, Honda told us that as part of its developing strategy, it is concentrating on expanding the application of its two-motor hybrid technology to core models.

“Honda will stop making the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid and Clarity Fuel Cell in August 2021 in line with this policy. Honda will continue to support our Clarity customers in the market and the Clarity Fuel Cell will be available for lease through 2022 as a result.

Honda plans to produce the Clarity in 2022.

By most standards, the Honda Clarity is among the most effective electric vehicles on the market. It has a range of more than 80 km, a wonderful driving experience, incredible comfort, and unmatched build quality.

But in the end, none of those attributes were able to preserve it. Honda has said that it would stop making the Clarity later this year. The news was initially reported by the Japanese publication Nikkei, and Honda’s American branch then released an official statement.

Honda has set a goal to sell only battery- or fuel-cell-powered vehicles by 2040 as part of their commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. In order to prepare for the release of our first mass-market BEV models in 2024, we are modifying our strategy with an emphasis on expanding the application of our two-motor hybrid technology to core models. Honda will stop making the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid and Clarity Fuel Cell in August 2021 in line with this policy.

The Honda Clarity’s lifespan

What is the battery life? The battery is supported by an 8 year, 100,000 mile warranty and is built to last for many years of dependable operation.

In 2022, will Honda have a PHEV?

Anyone who wants to sell in the largest auto market in the world must adjust when it decides to go electric. Honda demonstrated its willingness to achieve this with the automobiles it displayed at the Auto Shanghai 2021. The second half of 2021 will see the Breeze PHEV go on sale. Production of the SUV E:Prototype is anticipated to begin in early 2022. They are among the ten electric cars the business plans to market in China during the following five years.

Honda provided very little information on the E:Prototype aside from the design. The manufacturer just stated that it will feature dramatic “but smooth” acceleration performance and is based on “Honda dynamics innovations.

Honda also emphasized that it would employ the third-generation Honda Connect, which has connectivity options that will let it to have speech recognition and over-the-air updates. A more advanced ADAS system is a key component of Honda Connect.

Gallery: Honda Reveals The SUV E:Prototype And Breeze PHEV At Auto Shanghai 2021

There is nothing pertaining to power, range, quick charging capability, or any other inquiries EV owners might have. It only guarantees to be close to serial manufacturing because it is a prototype. Only after the final draft is presented will we know the answers to those queries.

A Honda Clarity may be purchased.

The starting MSRP for the Clarity plug-in hybrid is $33,400. Even if it is above average for the class of hybrid vehicles, you should be aware that you might be eligible for a federal tax credit, which would ultimately result in a reduced cost for the vehicle. Although you can’t buy the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, you can rent one in California.

The Honda Clarity is manufactured where?

Honda also has closure plans for the Sayama, Japan, factory where the Clarity is made. The factory also produces the Honda Odyssey for international markets and the Honda Legend, which was previously sold in Canada as the now-discontinued Acura RLX.

Is it wise to keep my Honda Clarity?

The 2018 Honda Clarity continues to receive the most complaints, making it the worst year for the car. This makes sense because the majority of models experience issues within their initial model year.

Automakers will eventually fix the issues, increasing the model’s dependability.

The 2018 Honda Clarity’s engine’s high rpm and sporadic power loss was the main issue.

The engine revs so high, according to some owners, that it feels like it would explode. Following that, the engine typically loses power, resulting in a car stall.

This issue is serious since it puts motorists at danger of collisions or crashes. In fact, several owners gave up on the vehicle because they believed the engine issues made it dangerous to drive.

Numerous complaints about the 2018 Honda Clarity’s drivetrain issues were also made to the NHTSA.

Of all the Clarity variants, the 2019 Honda Clarity experiences the fewest issues and complaints.

Although there aren’t any complaints about the 2020 model either, it’s still a new model, so we can’t predict if there will be any.

Therefore, if you’re looking for a good alternative-fuel vehicle, we’d suggest acquiring the 2019 Honda Clarity.

Does it make sense to swap out a hybrid battery?

They might also inquire as to whether an investment in a hybrid battery is worthwhile. Hybrid batteries, on the other hand, won’t just save you money over time by lowering your trips to the petrol station; their longer lifespan also means you’ll spend less money on maintenance.

A hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle is better, right?

The electric battery in each full hybrid and plug-in hybrid car is the primary functional difference between them:

  • A plug-in hybrid’s battery serves a different function than a hybrid’s. The electric battery serves as the car’s main source of power in plug-in hybrid vehicles. The internal combustion engine takes over when the battery drains. In a full hybrid, the battery only supplies enough power to move the vehicle at modest speeds, such as through towns and cities.
  • Another difference between a plug-in hybrid and a full hybrid is the capacity for battery recharging. Regenerative braking may enable a plug-in hybrid to obtain a small charge. A plug-in vehicle must be connected to an external power source in order to fully recharge, however, because it depends more on its larger battery. Regenerative braking is a technique used by full hybrids to replenish their electric batteries. They transform the heat that is produced while braking into electricity that the electric battery can store.
  • The electric battery in a plug-in hybrid is larger and more expensive to replace than the electric battery in a complete hybrid, hence the size and price of the batteries are different.

Plug-ins and complete hybrids have one thing in common: once their batteries run out, both vehicles virtually switch to running on gasoline. For a quick comparison of plug-in hybrids and full hybrids, use the table below:

How long does it take a charging station to fully charge a Honda Clarity?

It takes roughly 12 hours to fully charge a Level 1 120-volt charger. You receive a complete charge in around 2.5 hours using a 30 amp Level 2, 240-volt charger.

Everything Honda Clarity drivers need to know about charging an electric vehicle

Honda expanded its Clarity series in 2017 by releasing the Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) and Honda Clarity Electric BEV. Only California and Oregon presently offer the Honda Clarity Electric on a three-year lease. Due to its sector-leading 47-mile all-electric range, the Clarity PHEV, which is offered in all 50 states, is one of the only PHEVs to be eligible for the full $7,500 federal EV tax credit.

Honda Clarity EV charging and range

With a 25.5 kWh battery, the 2017 Honda Clarity Electric has an about 89-mile driving range (143 km). With a 17 kWh battery, the 2017 Clarity Electric Plug-In Hybrid can go 47 miles (76 km) on electricity alone before switching to a hybrid drivetrain that uses the gas generator for a total hybrid range of 340 miles (550 km).

For the US market, the SAE J1772-2009 (Type 1) receptacle for 120-240 V Level 1 and 2 AC charging is installed in the Clarity Electric and Plug-In Hybrid. The chart below lists the charging rates for the Honda Clarity.

Level 3 DC fast charging: CCS

The DC fast charge option for the Honda Clarity Electric allows for charging at a rate of up to 55 kW. For level 3 DC rapid charging, the Clarity Electric utilizes the SAE Combined Charging Connector (CCS). Your Honda Clarity Electric can be charged to roughly 80% of its capacity in 30 minutes using DC Fast Charging, which adds about 70 miles. There is no DC fast charging option available with the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid variant.

A CHAdeMO DC rapid charging connector was also used by the Clarity PHEV, which debuted in Japan in 2018 and similarly provided an 80% battery charge in about 30 minutes.