Honda Introduces FCX Clarity Production Hydrogen Vehicle

Honda has officially launched production of its first hydrogen-fueled vehicle, the FCX Clarity. The FCX Clarity is an electric vehicle that is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The vehicle is rated to receive an equivalent fuel economy of about 74-mpg, and offers a range of about 280 miles between refueling. The vehicle's only emission is water vapor. Honda first introduced the FCX Clarity as a concept vehicle at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show.

Honda plans to offer the vehicle for lease in the US, starting with three dealerships in California. The monthly lease price will be about $600. As part of the lease arrangement, Honda will provide all maintenance and service. The company expects to lease only about 200 hydrogen-powered cars over the next three years. Customers must qualify to lease the vehicles, with one requirement being that the lessee must live within range of a hydrogen filing station.

Currently, mass production of hydrogen-powered vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell technologies is limited by the unavailability of convenient refueling options. Honda claims to be the first automaker to have a hydrogen-powered vehicle certified for normal commercial use by the EPA. BMW also has a hydrogen-powered zero-emission vehicle which was recently tested at the Argonne National Laboratory.