Honda makes first hydrogen cars

[DRIVER_UK]

Japanese car manufacturer Honda has begun the first commercial production of a zero-emission, hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicle.

The four-seater, called FCX Clarity, runs on hydrogen and electricity, emitting only water vapour.

Honda claims the vehicle offers three times better fuel efficiency than a traditional, petrol-powered car.

Honda plans to produce 200 of the cars, which are initially available only to lease, over the next three years.

One of the biggest obstacles standing in the way of wider adoption of fuel-cell vehicles is the lack of hydrogen fuelling stations.

The first five customers are all based in southern California because of the proximity of hydrogen fuelling stations, Honda said.

US actress Jamie Lee Curtis will be among the first to take delivery of the vehicle, the firm added.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7456141.stm

[NewWorldOrder]

I saw this on Fox News, and it's only going to be available in California and only for lease. I really think this is great, but I'm skeptical. Honda made this car because it's "cleaner". I'm wondering though about the cost of hydrogen fuel. Is it comparable to gasoline in cost? One article I read, said Honda may come out with a home hydrogen station, due to the lack of hydrogen fuel stations across the country.

http://www.cellounge.com/2008/04/17/2009-honda-fxc-clarity/

http://www.infibeam.com/blog/news/2007/11/27/hondas_tryst_with_fuel_cell_technology_fxc_clarity _unveiled.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/450645/the_fxc_clarity_hondas_zeroemission.html?cat=27

[shayera]

I was reading about it in a longgggggggg thread on Hannity's board, but after about 100 posts, not one clue of the cost to fill it up. Just a lot of questions.

[felixthecat]

Another excerpt:

One of the biggest obstacles standing in the way of wider adoption of fuel-cell vehicles is the lack of hydrogen fuelling stations.

This is an important day in the history of fuel-cell vehicle technology

John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda

Critics also point out that hydrogen is costly to produce and the most common way to produce hydrogen is still from fossil fuels.

Analysis of the environmental impact of different fuel technologies has shown that the overall carbon dioxide emissions from hydrogen powered cars can be higher than that from petrol or diesel-powered vehicles.

OOops - the environMENTALISTS won't like this ... the dreaded "fossil fuels" that we have an abundance of could be used for this car ... .