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Honda Clarity is your new fuel cell future vehicle [w/video]

We know it will go on sale in the US next spring. We know it will have an estimated range of over 300 miles. We know it will start sales in California, since that's where the hydrogen stations are. But perhaps the one key details about Honda's new fuel cell vehicle that we are learning today is the name. It will be the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell. That should ring a few H2 bells for hydrogen vehicle fans out there, since the fuel cell vehicle that Honda has been leasing since 2008 was called the FCX Clarity (and the hydrogen test vehicle before that was the FCX). Naming the new vehicle - known until now as the FCEV - the new Clarity draws a clear line through to Honda's hydrogen history. This is a completely different message than the one that Toyota is sending with the name for its upcoming hydrogen car, the Mirai. In Japanese, Mirai means future. It is also interesting to note that Honda is not going to target regular consumers with the Clarity during the first year, at least in Japan. Honda says that it will work "mainly" with local governments and business customers that have shown an interest in hydrogen technology and will begin sales to individual customers "later." The five-seat Clarity Fuel Cell will come in three colors: Premium Brilliant Garnet Metallic, White Orchid Pearl, and Crystal Black Pearl. Honda says that the price, in Japan, will be 7.6 million yen, including consumption tax. That equals $63,610 in the US, but we all know these prices cannot simply be converted like this to arrive at the US MSRP. Still, now we have a guideline. At this time, Honda does not plan to sell the vehicle, since, the Clarity will be "currently available exclusively for lease sales." We got to take a brief drive in the FCEV this past week, and you can read more about the technological advances in the new Clarity (the smaller fuel cell stack, the powertrain packaging, etc.) here. The fact that Honda consistently calls the new car the Clarity Fuel Cell (as opposed to simply the Clarity) gives us reason to think that the upcoming PHEV and all-electric models will not only share a chassis, but also perhaps a name. Clarity EV, anyone? Honda Exhibits World Premiere of CLARITY FUEL CELL, Planned Production Model of its All-new Fuel Cell Vehicle, at 44th Tokyo Motor Show 2015 -- Lease sales in Japan will begin in March 2016 -- TOKYO, Japan, October 28, 2015 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Techstars Mobility brings transportation startups to Detroit

A new tech incubator is looking to combine the Motor City's automotive history with its evolving tech startup landscape. "Techstars Mobility, Driven by Detroit" kicks off its first round with 10 startups next week. Techstars is an established accelerator network with incubators around the world, and Detroit is a new addition. The projects center around mobility in some form, be it improving vehicles, moving goods, or working cars into the sharing economy in new ways. In return for a percentage stake in each company, Techstars provides mentorship, access to experts, seed money, and a collaborative environment. One startup we're particularly excited about is Motoroso. This site is like Pinterest for the car-obsessed, with boards replaced by garages that can contain photos and links to other projects. The site lets you follow brands – Chevy, Porsche, Ducati, and others already have profiles – as well as other users. For the Autoblog editors, Motoroso provides a new way to share stories, photos, and video, as well as a way to discover new products and interesting DIY projects. Take a look at the Autoblog profile and wander around the site to check things out. Another one of the startups, Classics & Exotics, is helping owners of interesting cars and would-be drivers connect in an Airbnb-style distributed rental program. Think of it as an auction catalog you can drive. Renters can specify the price, mileage, minimum driver age, and availability. Similar to Airbnb, Classics & Exotics provides each vehicle owner with $1 million in liability and damage protection. The company also vets renters for added peace of mind. Sounds like fun, and a cheap way to avoid a costly Craigslist or eBay mistake. Along similar shared-economy lines comes SPLT, a ride-sharing platform that finds people going where you're going and lets you hop in a car and split the costs. It's aimed at commuters but also has great applications for those looking for occasional one-way rides somewhere. SPLT notes that the system is a good way to meet new people – hopefully, good new people. Depending on how well SPLT keeps sketchy rides and riders out of the system, this could be a solid alternative to services like Uber and Lyft. This Techstars Mobility class has backing from corporate sponsors, including Ford, Honda, Magna, Dana, Verizon Telematics (Verizon has an offer pending to buy AOL, our parent company), and McDonald's.

Recharge Wrap-up: Eberhard helps Chinese EV maker in US, 'Hail a Honda' at Austin City Limits

Honda is partnering with nonprofit ridesharing service Ride Austin to provide "Hail A Honda" service during the Austin City Limits Music Festival. For both weekends of the festival (Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 and Oct. 7 – Oct. 9), attendees can ride to the event for free in a special liveried 2016 Honda CR-V. The Ride Austin app will feature a "Honda at ACL Festival" tab to hail rides, and users will get a free bandana and water. 2016 marks Honda's eighth year as an Austin City Limits sponsor, and the automaker hosts its own stage at the event. Read more from Honda. Tesla cofounder Martin Eberhard is helping a Chinese EV company enter the US market. Chongqing Sokon Industry Group says it has hired Eberhard as a consultant with a two-year contract. Sokon has created a US-based subsidiary called SF Motors, and Eberhard will manage "the integration of the world's top talent for new energy vehicles, to promote the company's product positioning, R&D, design, technical innovation, talent pool, marketing, in the United States." Since helping to found Tesla, Eberhard has worked on EVs with Volkswagen, Atieva, and as an investor in Alta Motors. Read more at Electrek. A supplier for the Tesla Model 3 describes the automaker's perfectionism. Fuji Technica, a die maker supplying aluminum dies for the Model 3, describes its relationship with Tesla in an article from the Nikkei Asian Review. The company calls Tesla a demanding customer, asking for very specific shapes despite the difficulty of working with aluminum. Fuji Technica must work some dies by hand to achieve Tesla's "meticulous specifications." The company is proud of its achievements, though, especially considering its turnaround after years of financial troubles. Read more from the Nikkei Asian Review, and at Inside EVs. Related Gallery Tesla Model 3 View 18 Photos News Source: Honda, Electrek, Inside EVs, Nikkei Asian Review Green Marketing/Advertising Honda Automakers Tesla Transportation Alternatives Electric recharge wrapup