Honda Fuel Cell Vehicle Certified for Commercial Use
The Honda FCX has become the first fuel cell vehicle in the world to receive government certification.
The Honda FCX has become the first fuel cell vehicle in the world to receive government certification. The FCX has been certified by the California Air Resources Board as a zero emission vehicle and by the EPA as a Tier-2 Bin 1, national low-emission vehicle, the lowest national emission rating.
"While there still remains much work ahead to make fuel cell vehicles a mainstream transportation option, this certification is an important first step," said Jeff Holmstead, assistant administrator of the EPA's Office of Air and Radiation.
Honda will start a lease program for a limited number of FCXs in the U.S and Japan by the end of this year. During the first two-to-three-year period, Honda will lease about 30 fuel cell vehicles in California and the Tokyo metropolitan area, two locations with access to a hydrogen fuel supply infrastructure. The company currently has no plans, however, for mass-market sales of fuel cell vehicles.
“Certification allows Honda to place fuel cell vehicles in commercial operation " said Tom Elliott, American Honda executive vice president. "We'll have an opportunity to evaluate fuel cell vehicles in real world applications and to study the development of a refueling infrastructure to support fuel cell vehicles. However, it is important to remember that significant cost, technology and infrastructure issues remain prior to the mass marketing of fuel cell vehicles."
The Honda fuel cell vehicle achieves 15% more maximum drive motor torque than previous models and also provides improvements in mid-to-high range power output characteristics and acceleration. It also has an increased driving range of 220 miles, about 25 miles more than the previous model.
"While there still remains much work ahead to make fuel cell vehicles a mainstream transportation option, this certification is an important first step," said Jeff Holmstead, assistant administrator of the EPA's Office of Air and Radiation.
Honda will start a lease program for a limited number of FCXs in the U.S and Japan by the end of this year. During the first two-to-three-year period, Honda will lease about 30 fuel cell vehicles in California and the Tokyo metropolitan area, two locations with access to a hydrogen fuel supply infrastructure. The company currently has no plans, however, for mass-market sales of fuel cell vehicles.
“Certification allows Honda to place fuel cell vehicles in commercial operation " said Tom Elliott, American Honda executive vice president. "We'll have an opportunity to evaluate fuel cell vehicles in real world applications and to study the development of a refueling infrastructure to support fuel cell vehicles. However, it is important to remember that significant cost, technology and infrastructure issues remain prior to the mass marketing of fuel cell vehicles."
The Honda fuel cell vehicle achieves 15% more maximum drive motor torque than previous models and also provides improvements in mid-to-high range power output characteristics and acceleration. It also has an increased driving range of 220 miles, about 25 miles more than the previous model.
