HONDA
FUEL CELL VEHICLE FIRST TO RECEIVE
CERTIFICATION
The Honda FCX, researched and
developed by both Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., has become the
first fuel cell vehicle in the world to
receive government certification, paving the
way for the commercial use of fuel cell
vehicles.
Both the U.S. government's
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the
California Air Resources Board (CARB) have
certified the hydrogen-powered Honda FCX as
meeting all applicable standards. The FCX has
been certified by CARB as a Zero Emission
Vehicle (ZEV) and by the EPA as a Tier 2 - Bin
1, National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) - the
lowest national emission rating. The FCX will
also meet applicable U.S. safety and occupant
protection standards.
"This is an important milestone
for the automobile industry that holds the
promise of cleaner air," said Jeff Holmstead,
assistant administrator of the EPA's Office of
Air and Radiation. "While there still remains
much work ahead to make fuel cell vehicles a
mainstream transportation option, this
certification is an important first step."
 By
the end of 2002, American Honda will start a
lease program for a limited number of FCXs in
the U.S and Honda Japan will do the same.
During the first two-to-three-year period,
Honda will lease approximately 30 fuel cell
vehicles in the California and Tokyo
metropolitan areas. To fuel the vehicles, two
locations will be made available in each city
to provide access to a hydrogen fuel supply
infrastructure. The company currently has no
plans, however, for mass-market sales of fuel
cell vehicles in Canada, Japan, the U.S. or
any other countries.
This latest version of Honda's
fuel cell vehicle achieves 15 percent 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 approximately 355 km (220
miles), an 11 percent increase over the
previous model.
Honda started fuel cell
research in 1989 and has been road testing
vehicles in the U.S. and Japan since 1999.
"The California certification
of Honda's FCX is a tremendous
accomplishment," said Alan C. Lloyd, chairman
of CARB. "The California Fuel Cell Partnership
- involving energy companies, auto
manufacturers, component makers and government
agencies - will continue to help coordinate
key industry-wide issues, including
infrastructure development."
 Honda
has a long history of automotive environmental
leadership dating back to 1975 when the Honda
CVCC was the first vehicle to meet the amended
Clean Air Act standard. Since then, Honda was
the first company to market a gasoline vehicle
(Civic) meeting the low emission vehicle (LEV)
standard and the Civic was also the first
gasoline car meeting California's Ultra Low
Emission Vehicle standard.
Honda was the first to sell a
gasoline-electric "hybrid" car in the U.S. -
the Insight - and earlier this year added the
Civic Hybrid, first mass market hybrid model.
HONDA FCX SPECIFICATIONS
VEHICLE
Length: 4165 mm (163.9")
Width: 1760 mm (62.3")
Height: 1645 mm (64.8")
Maximum Speed: 150 km/h (93 mph)
Driving Range: 355 km (220 miles)
Seating Capacity: 4 adults
MOTOR
Maximum Power Output: 80 hp (60kW)
Maximum Drive Torque: 201 lb.-ft. (272Nm)
Motor Type: AC synchronous
FUEL CELL STACK
Stack Type: PEFC (proton exchange membrane
type - Ballard)
Power Output: 78kW
POWER
STORAGE Honda Ultra Capacitor
FUEL
Type: Compressed gaseous hydrogen
Storage Method: High-pressure hydrogen storage
tank (5,000 psi)
Fuel Capacity: 156.6 Litres (34.4 imperial
gallons)
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