Honda Discontinues Production Of Fuel-Cell, Plug-in Hybrid Cars

Honda motor has announced its plan to stop production of the Clarity fuel-cell car and plug-in hybrid car by August as part of a broader push to trim underperforming models.

Honda has also decided to end production of its high-end gasoline-fueled sedan as well as the Odyssey luxury sport utility car in order to focus on its goal of selling only zero-emission vehicles by 2040.

The Clarity fuel-cell car was first rolled out in 2016 but was relatively high priced in the US from the launch with a high $71,200 price tag and a lack of hydrogen refueling infrastructure in the US. With the end of the Clarity EV, PHEV and fuel-cell models, Honda is currently building no electrified models at all in the US.

However, the company said that it will build enough Clarity fuel-cell models for lessees into 2022 and will provide support for the foreseeable future.

Those could include EVs, but Honda hasn't given up yet on hydrogen either, having struck a deal with GM to develop fuel cell vehicles. However, most hydrogen in the US is made by reforming natural gas, so the fuel still releases greenhouse gases even though only water comes out of a fuel-cell vehicle's tailpipe.