Honda produces first commercial hydrogen cars

typeR · by typeR on Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:21 am

Honda produces first commercial hydrogen cars

Honda has begun the first commercial production ever of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered car.

The Japanese auto manufacturer ceremoniously launched production of its first hydrogen-powered vehicles on Sunday in Tochigi, Japan and announced who its first clients will be.

The four-door sedan, called the FCX Clarity, runs on electricity from a fuel cell battery powered by hydrogen fuel. Steam is the car's only byproduct. The car can get a combined (city and highway driving) fuel efficiency of about 72 miles per kg of H2 which, according to Honda's own estimates, is the equivalent of getting about 74 mpg on a gas-powered car. The car can be driven for about 280 miles before needing to be refueled.

Honda CEO Takeo Fukui drives some of the first people to lease Honda's FCX
Clarity hydrogen car: Ron Yerxa, Lauren Harris, and Jon Spallino.(Credit: Honda Motor)

While many automakers and researchers have prototypes and pilot projects using hydrogen fuel to power fuel cells on electric hybrids, or as a direct fuel source for vehicles with converted engines, there are no hydrogen-powered cars yet available for lease or purchase to the average consumer.

Honda claims it is the first company to have a hydrogen car certified for regular commercial use by the U.S. EPA.
"This is an important day in the history of fuel cell vehicle technology and a monumental step closer to the day when fuel cell cars will be part of the mainstream," John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda, said in a statement.
The car was first introduced as a concept vehicle in 2005 at the Tokyo Motor Show.
Starting this July, Honda plans to offer the hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity through a lease program from one of three dealerships in California: Power Honda Costa Mesa, Honda of Santa Monica, and Scott Robinson Honda in Torrance. Honda also plans to make the cars available in Japan. The cars will be made available on a three-year lease for about $600 per month, according to Honda.
Among the first owners will be actor/author Jamie-Lee Curtis and her husband, filmmaker Christopher Guest of "This is Spinal Tap" fame.
Of course, hydrogen cars are not going to be widely driven any time soon. Honda estimates it will lease only about 200 FCX Clarity vehicles over the next three years. In order to qualify for the lease program, would-be owners will have to meet a set of criteria that includes living within range of a hydrogen filling station, according to Honda. As part of the lease, Honda will provide any necessary service or maintenance on the vehicle.
The biggest obstacle in mass market appeal of hydrogen-powered vehicles vs. gas-electric hybrids is where owners would be able to fill-up their car. While the U.S. Department of Energy has been a proponent of hydrogen fuel as an alternative energy for cars, there are currently few hydrogen fuel filling stations the U.S.
There is also an ongoing debate as to whether hydrogen, a fuel that requires large amounts of electricity to be produced, is truly energy efficient when its entire food chain is taken into consideration.