2017 Honda Clarity Electric quietly hits the road

The second triplet in Honda's series of eco-cars hits the road as the 2017 Honda Clarity Electric.

This fully electric car is powered by a 25.5 kWh battery pack that's good for about 89 miles of cruising range.

Under the hood is a 120 kilowatt (about 161 horsepower) electric motor that drives the front wheels via a single-speed reduction gear.

Acceleration is pretty good -- on par with an Accord four-cylinder -- but it's whisper quiet and has zero tailpipe emissions.

Charging the Clarity EV from a 240-volt source takes about 3 hours. A DC combo charger can rush an 80-percent charge in just 30 minutes.

The Clarity Electric uses the same body as the Fuel Cell variant we tested earlier and the same host of aerodynamic tweaks.

It's a fairly efficient ride, but range is king when it comes to electric cars. The Clarity's 89-mile range makes it tough to recommend against cars like the Hyundai Ioniq or Chevrolet's Bolt.

The Clarity does have its charms: standard tech is very good, and the spacious, full-sized cabin outclasses most other EVs, which tend toward the compact end of the scale.

Honda's electric Clarity hits the road this month with a lease-only pricing structure. Expect to pay $269 per month for 36 months. The federal tax credit is built into this lease price, which requires a down payment of $1,730.