The
Honda FCX continues to reinforce Honda's leadership in the development
and rollout of environmental technology. This year, the FCX takes advantage
of refueling software upgrades to extend the drive range to 210 miles.
These upgrades facilitate improvements to the refueling process that yields
better use of storage capacity and thus increase driving range. The world's
most advanced production fuel cell vehicle, the FCX is the only hydrogen
vehicle certified to meet the stringent emissions standards of California
and the Federal government. Powered by a Honda-developed fuel cell stack
(Honda FC Stack) the FCX is capable of starting and operating at temperatures
as low as -20oC (-4oF) with improved performance, range and heightened
design simplicity.
Honda currently has 15 FCX vehicles
in the hands of customers in three different states. One of those customers,
the Spallino family of California (near Los Angeles), celebrated the first
anniversary of the historical inaugural delivery of a fuel cell vehicle
to a retail consumer this year. The experience has provided Honda with
significant real world experience relevant to the future of fuel cell technology
and customer expectations. "Driving the FCX over the last 12 months has
been a great experience," said Jon Spallino, Honda's first retail customer.
"We wanted a car that would drive like a regular car and surprisingly it
is exactly what we got."
The Honda FC Stack made its debut
in 2005 with a metal separator structure that is easier to manufacture
and reduces the number of necessary components by 50 percent, with the
aim of increasing stack longevity and reducing manufacturing costs. This
system also includes an aromatic electrolyte membrane that reduces manufacturing
costs and increases the range between cold and warm temperature operation.
Power output is 107 horsepower and 201 foot-pounds of torque.
The hydrogen-powered Honda FCX is
the only fuel cell vehicle certified by the California Air Resources Board
(CARB) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for everyday commercial
use. CARB has also certified the FCX as a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV),
and as a US EPA Tier-2 Bin-1 with a range of 210 miles and seating for
four people, making it practical for a wide range of real-world applications.
Honda continues work on the development
of infrastructure technology for hydrogen refueling, as evident by the
research conducted on the experimental Home Energy Station (HES). Currently
on its third generation of development, this station aims to provide a
home-based refueling environment capable of providing sufficient fuel to
power a fuel cell vehicle while providing electrical energy needs for an
average size home. The Home Energy Station, in addition to Honda's next
generation fuel cell vehicle which made its American debut at the North
America International Auto Show in 2006, aim to develop intermediate and
long term alternatives to a petroleum based energy economy.
Honda's next generation FCX fuel
cell vehicle concept will begin production within 3 years and signals Honda's
commitment to the advancement of fuel cell vehicle technology. Using an
innovative approach to fuel cell system design, this vehicle boasts a fuel
cell system that delivers more power in less space. Honda's original design
vertical gas flow (V Flow) fuel cell stack is compact enough to fit neatly
into the center tunnel thus creating unique interior packaging opportunities
previously unattainable in fuel cell vehicle design.
Honda undertook fuel cell research
in 1989 and has been road testing vehicles in the United States since 1999.
Honda has also been a member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership based
in Sacramento, California, since 1999.

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