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