Why did Honda stop making the Honda Clarity?

Honda halted the Clarity lineup largely because hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles faced infrastructural and cost barriers, prompting a strategic shift toward more scalable battery-electric and hybrid models that could reach a broader audience.

Context and aims of the Clarity program

The Clarity family arrived as Honda’s foray into alternative powertrains, launched in the mid-2010s to explore zero-emission mobility. It comprised three distinct variants designed to showcase different approaches to clean propulsion, with a focus on markets where subsidies and infrastructure could support early adoption.

Variants and their aims

The Clarity lineup consisted of three variants designed to explore different routes to zero-emission mobility:

• Clarity Fuel Cell (FCV): hydrogen-powered sedan with a long range per fill, offered primarily through a limited lease program in California and a few other markets.


• Clarity Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV): gasoline-hybrid with a practical electric-only range for daily trips and a gasoline backup for longer trips.


• Clarity Electric (BEV): all-electric version with a modest range by today’s standards, targeting urban and suburban buyers with access to charging.

In practice, the program faced challenges in scaling up, constrained by infrastructure gaps and limited consumer demand.

Key factors behind ending the Clarity program

Honda formally signaled in 2021 that it would wind down the Clarity lineup in North America, with production ending by 2022. The decision to retire the model line was driven by several converging challenges.

• Limited hydrogen fueling infrastructure in the United States, Japan, and parts of Europe, which curtailed practical daily use of the FCV variant and raised total cost of ownership.


• High costs and complexity of fuel-cell systems, hydrogen storage, and maintaining a separate supply chain for hydrogen stations.


• Weak consumer demand for Clarity variants relative to more scalable BEV and hybrid offerings.


• A strategic pivot toward mass-market electrification, including expanding battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models across Honda’s core lineup.


• Partnerships and platform choices aimed at reducing costs and speeding BEV deployment, such as collaborations to develop shared EV architectures.

Taken together, these factors made continuing the Clarity program financially imprudent and strategically misaligned with Honda’s goals for the coming decade.

What Honda did next to electrify its lineup

With the Clarity behind it, Honda redirected resources toward a broader electrification strategy designed to reach more buyers with practical, affordable EVs and hybrids.

• Expanding the BEV and hybrid portfolio, including more SUV-shaped electrified models to appeal to a wider audience.


• Advancing the e:HEV hybrid approach across existing models to improve efficiency without relying solely on rapid charging infrastructure.


• Developing future BEV platforms and pursuing partnerships to share costs and accelerate time-to-market, including collaborations with other automakers for new EV architectures.


• Focusing on real-world needs such as charging access, price parity, and total cost of ownership to drive broader EV adoption.

The shift aims to accelerate Honda's electrification timeline while delivering practical and accessible electric propulsion to a broad customer base.

Summary

The decision to retire the Clarity lineup reflects a pragmatic assessment of market realities: hydrogen FCVs face infrastructure and cost hurdles, and demand for Clarity variants remained limited. By refocusing on scalable BEV and hybrid offerings, Honda aims to broaden its electrification footprint and position itself for wider adoption of electric technology in the near term. The Clarity era stands as an important step in Honda’s ongoing exploration of alternative powertrains, signaling a pivot toward a more broadly accessible electric future.

What year of Hondas to stay away from?

The Honda Accord model years you should avoid are 1998-2005, 2008, 2013, 2014, and 2018. Across these years, the most common concerns involve serious safety issues such as steering malfunctions, faulty airbags, ABS module failures, and unexpected braking from malfunctioning driver-assist systems.

What is the disadvantage of a Honda hybrid?

Disadvantages of a Honda hybrid include higher upfront costs, potentially higher maintenance costs for specific components like the hybrid battery, and sometimes lower fuel economy on the highway compared to competitors. Some owners also report specific model disadvantages, such as a lack of a spare tire, which can impact cargo space. 
Cost and maintenance

• Higher initial cost: Hybrid models can be more expensive to purchase than their gasoline-only counterparts. 
• Potential for high battery replacement costs: While hybrid batteries can last for many years and often come with a warranty, replacement is expensive and can cost $2,000 or more. 
• Specialized maintenance: The complex hybrid system can require specialized maintenance, although Honda's network of trained technicians is growing. 

Performance and fuel economy

• Lower highway MPG: Some models may get lower overall fuel economy than anticipated, especially at high speeds, potentially performing worse than some competitors. 
• Less towing capacity: The hybrid versions of some models, like the CR-V, have a lower towing capacity than the gas-only versions. 

Space and features

• No spare tire: In some models, the hybrid battery is placed under the cargo area, which means there is no space for a spare tire. 
• Lack of certain features: Some competitors may offer more features that Honda hybrids lack, such as a head-up display, cooled front seats, or a panoramic roof. 

How much to replace a Honda Clarity hybrid battery?

A Honda Clarity hybrid battery replacement costs between $8,500 and $12,000 or more, while the battery for the full electric model may be around $10,000 to $12,000 or more. The cost depends on the specific model and the type of battery (e.g., all-electric vs. plug-in hybrid) and can vary significantly between the dealership and third-party repair shops.
 
Cost breakdown

• Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid: Around $8,500. 
• Honda Clarity Electric: Around $10,000. 
• Dealerships: May quote $12,000 or more, especially for the all-electric version. 
• Third-party specialists: Might offer a lower price, such as $8,500 for the plug-in hybrid model, according to Greentec Auto. 

Factors that influence the cost

• Model: The all-electric Clarity will cost more than the plug-in hybrid due to a larger battery pack. 
• Service provider: Dealerships may have higher prices for parts and labor than independent shops. 
• Battery type: The specific type of battery (e.g., lithium-ion) and whether it is new or remanufactured will affect the price. 
• Labor: The complex nature of a hybrid battery replacement requires specialized labor, which can be costly. 
• Additional parts: Depending on the issue, you may also need to purchase other parts like battery cable harness brackets or terminal covers, which can add to the total cost. 

Why did Honda discontinue Clarity?

According to Honda's official statement on why the Clarity FCV was being pulled from its line-up, it cited a low market demand for fuel cell vehicles, the dearth of hydrogen fuel stations, a lackluster market reception, and a lack of government subsidies for fuel cell vehicles.