The Honda Clarity has been released as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in dealerships across Japan. The Clarity nameplate, which has previously used for the Honda fuel-cell version of the vehicle, was expanded to include a battery electric variant and a plug-in hybrid version – the latter of which was made available in the USA at the end of 2017.
The vehicle uses a 1.5-liter DOHC i-VTEC Atkinson cycle in-line four-cylinder ICE coupled to a starter/generator motor, a 184ps AC synchronous traction motor, and a 17kWh 168-cell lithium-ion battery pack. This results in the PHEV model having a total system output of 315Nm of torque and an EV driving range of 114.6km.
The vehicle’s Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) – which includes the high-power battery pack – is designed to sit under the vehicle floor, while the harness and 12V DC/DC converter are located in the Clarity’s central tunnel.
The plug-in Clarity also features fast-charging capabilities, which can provide 80% charge in approximately 30 minutes.
