What's up with Honda's Clarity Fuel Cell PR Campaign?
Still years away from reality?I'm not a big channel surfer when it comes to TV. In fact, I'm a pretty boring TV watcher, although I do watch a ton of TV. All day long, CNBC is on in the background, and numerous times per day, everyday, I see Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle commercials.
What's the deal, yo?
I love this car - it won my pick for the Best of the LA Auto Show. Still, Honda is only going to lease, at best, a few hundred of these vehicles in the next few years (that is just an educated guess). So, why so much PR?
Is Honda seeking a halo effect, much like the Prius brought to Toyota? Or, is this Honda's challenge to GM's Chevy Volt? Or, is Honda simply trying to create momentum for the creation of the hydrogen highway? Maybe it's all of the above?
Is this commercial only being shown in the LA area - the only area where you will be able to lease a Clarity? I'm a little unclear, but it seems a shockingly aggressive campaign.
Labels: Honda FCX, hydrogen highway
posted by Dahcredyns at
1:56 PM
7 Comments:
I have seen this commercial quite a few times over the past week. I live in Baltimore, MD.
That's crazy.
If it were only focused in LA, it would make a lot of sense, since that is the first market the Clarity will be sold. However, since you're seeing it in Maryland, then this is probably a nationwide campaign.
Wow, that just seems very aggressive. Even when GM advertises the Volt, it is usually included with other vehicles.
Maybe Honda's Hydrogen Home Fueling station is much closer to reality than generally believed. I noticed BusinessWeek ran a piece on the this subject today, I'm gonna check it out now.
I just did some searching for the "Home Fueling Station."
Between the Newsweek article and the article on Honda's website, I am very intrigued! It seems to power both the home and the car.
I wonder what the real-world costs of this thing will be like.
Probably expensive, but who knows.
When I was at the press days of the LA Auto Show, Honda reps told me that the Home Fueling Station wouldn't be an option for those that would lease the Clarity. So, it isn't fully baked yet.
Still, there are a couple of interesting things about the Home Fueling Station: First, it makes a conventional home's energy usage more efficient - which helps cover the cost. Second, Honda has prototypes of the Home Fueling Station that are powered by solar panels. Thus, solar energy could also - in theory - be an add-on to the Home Fueling Station, which would also make solar power more cost-effective, in addition to producing clean and green hydrogen.
I'm guessing that is part of the reason that Honda has started a solar panel producing company.
Exciting stuff. It's still a bit far-fetched, in terms of costs, but the cost-effectiveness of the hydrogen economy is very close to reality. It's going to take some serious out-of-the-box thinking and some help from the government, but imagine the possibilities!
Yeah, I live in Arizona and have seen it quite a few times. The good news is my 19 year old son wants to buy one so maybe Honda wants to see what the response to the ad is.
I'm seriously thinking about one. I'm close to a few hydrogen fuel stations so it could work for me.
The thing is, I've been able to build my commuting life around LA's subway system, so I don't really need a car. And, if I let my carbon footprint lead the way, the train is still probably a better path.
If I could get a solar-powered home fueling station, however, I'd have to do it (of course someone would have to help me pay for it!)
I saw a TV ad here in Philadelphia as well. I'm curious as to what Honda's strategy is!
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