| The Honda Motor Co. Ltd. continues to | | | | to be a production car," Honda spokesman |
| develop fuel efficient product lines to | | | | Chris Naughton said. |
| bolster its lead as the 'greenest' | | | | Do not expect much change when the |
| automaker. Earlier, the Japanese | | | | production model hits the road either, |
| automaker announced its plan to roll out | | | | Naughton said. "We very much expect to |
| a new hydrogen hybrid that will be | | | | carry over not only the sleek styling |
| released next year. | | | | and very spacious interior, but also the |
| The upcoming fuel cell vehicle gets an | | | | performance characteristics. Any changes |
| equivalent of nearly 70 mpg. Japan's | | | | will mainly slight tweaks, like |
| second largest automaker has been | | | | headlights, bumper height and a few |
| developing the FCX for nearly two | | | | other things to make it a true |
| decades and finally believes the car is | | | | production car," Naughton added. |
| ready for the tough streets and demands | | | | "It's important to get fuel cells on the |
| of the real world. Honda expects the | | | | road," said Paul Taylor, the chief |
| 2008 FCX will get a fuel mileage of | | | | economist of the Washington, D.C.-based |
| about 68 mpg in combined highway and | | | | National Automobile Dealers Association |
| city driving, with a range of 270 miles. | | | | (NADA). "We've had fuel-cell buses |
| The only emission that the FCX's | | | | running in Chicago for a while, but I |
| electric engine produces is water vapor | | | | don't know whether they can get through |
| that is created when hydrogen and oxygen | | | | to Denver or not." |
| combine to produce electricity. | | | | Local dealer Mile High Honda does not |
| Contrary to the Honda Civic Nitrous | | | | have any official confirmation from the |
| Systems, the FCX "is not just some far | | | | Japanese automaker about the delivery of |
| out, pie-in-the-sky exercise in what may | | | | fuel-cell cars, said Tom Easaw, the |
| or may not come to fruition some day in | | | | dealership's Internet sales manager. |
| the distant future," said Steve Ellis, | | | | "Honda has been developing FCX," Easaw |
| the manager of fuel cell vehicle | | | | said. "Filling up fuel-cell cars could |
| marketing for American Honda Motor Co. | | | | be an issue unless you have hydrogen |
| Inc. "We feel fuel cell electric | | | | fueling stations. To my knowledge, there |
| vehicles are the best and ultimate | | | | aren't any hydrogen fueling stations in |
| solution to the twin environmental and | | | | Denver." |
| societal challenges of global climate | | | | Approximately twelve states have |
| change and energy sustainability." | | | | hydrogen-fueling stations, and |
| The car is the first hydrogen fuel cell | | | | California accounts for most of them. |
| car that has been certified for daily | | | | Additionally, even at the higher mpg, |
| use by both the Environmental Protection | | | | getting hydrogen from fossil fuels is |
| Agency and the California Air Resources | | | | not worth the cost of the vehicles and |
| Board. "Along with that, we've already | | | | energy loss of the conversion. This is |
| done our own internal crash testing to | | | | why some critics are discouraging |
| ensure that it meets federal crash | | | | production of said vehicles at the |
| standards as well. So we consider this | | | | present time. |