Temple of VTEC Rumors and News - Honda Rises to the Challenge with World's First Commercially Certified Fuel Cell Vehicle

Torrance, Calif. 10/06/2003 -- With an extensive history of environmental technology leadership dating back to 1975 when the Honda CVCC was the first vehicle to meet the amended Clean Air Act initiative, Honda has developed its FCX fuel cell vehicle to pave the way reduce the global dependence on oil for the future.

Water vapor being its only exhaust, the FCX produces absolutely no harmful emissions into the atmosphere. The FCX is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell that produces electricity onboard the vehicle. A fuel cell combines hydrogen (stored in a tank) with oxygen in the air to make electricity, and water is the only byproduct from the tailpipe. The electricity then powers the electric motor, which in turn ultimately propels the vehicle.

In July 2002, Honda's FCX was certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), making it the first and only fuel cell car in history to be approved for use on pubic roads. CARB has also certified the FCX as a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV), and as a Tier-2 Bin 1, National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) by the EPA. In December 2002, the city of Los Angeles began leasing five Honda FCXs, which have been used in normal, everyday activities by city officials.

Honda plans to lease about 30 fuel cell vehicles in California and Japan during the next two years. At this time, Honda currently has not plans for mass-market sales of fuel cell vehicles or sales to individuals.

With an output of up to 80 horsepower and 201 foot-pounds of torque, acceleration of the FCX is similar to that of a Honda Civic. The FCX has a range of up to 170 miles and seating for four people, making it practical for a wide range of real-world applications.

The FCX utilizes technology from an assortment of existing Honda products. The EV Plus electric vehicle (produced from 1997 to 1999) provided the platform for the FCX, and like the EV Plus, the FCX uses an electric motor for propulsion. Honda's existing research in electric vehicles (EV Plus), compressed natural gas vehicles (Civic GX) and Hybrid vehicles (Insight and Civic Hybrid) provide beneficial real world experience with performance and safety issues related to gaseous fuel storage and high voltage safety in a vehicle.

Honda undertook fuel cell research 1989 and has been road testing vehicles in the United States since 2000.