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Honda Clarity Electric and Plug-in Hybrid launched

The Honda Clarity Electric and Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid made their debuts today at the 2017 New York motor show.


The two new drivetrains will join the hydrogen fuel cell version, which is currently available in select markets, such as Japan and California.

Honda estimates that it will sell around 75,000 cars from the Clarity line in the States over the next four years. To put that into perspective, Toyota shifted 98,866 Prius hatchbacks in the US during 2016.

By 2030, Honda believes two-thirds of its global sales will come from vehicles with electrified drivetrains.

Plug-in hybrid

The plug-in hybrid is expected to be the volume selling model in the Clarity range.

Under the bonnet, the Clarity PHEV features a 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, which primarily acts as a generator, but can, under certain circumstances, drive the wheels directly.

The car's main source of motivation is an electric motor generating 135kW of power and 315Nm of torque, with energy storage courtesy of an on-board 17kWh battery pack, which takes around two-and-a-half hours to recharge via a specially installed 240V socket.

Honda says the Clarity PHEV should be capable of around 68km of driving in pure electric mode, while overall range should be over 530 km.

Electric

The pure electric version of the Clarity has an electric motor with 120kW of power and 300Nm of torque.

Perhaps most controversially, the Clarity Electric has a range of just 129km (80mi) from its 25.5kWh battery pack. A full charge requires around three hours from a special 240V port, although the car also supports DC fast charging, which can top up the battery to 80 per cent within 30 minutes.

Australia

Both the Clarity Electric and the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid will have starting prices around US$35,000 ($46,600).

While the plug-in hybrid model will be sold across all 50 US states, the Clarity Electric will only be leased in California and Oregon.

We're waiting to hear back from Honda Australia about whether either of these models are on the cards for local sale.

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