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Honda's Green Initiative


FCX Clarity


Honda Announces First FCX Clarity Customers and World's First Fuel Cell Vehicle Dealership Network as Clarity Production Begins in Japan
Breakthrough zero emissions vehicle to be delivered in July

American Honda Motor Co., Inc., today announced five of the first customers for its advanced new FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle and also provided details of the world's first fuel cell vehicle dealership network in the United States. The announcements were made during a ceremony for the start of FCX Clarity production at the world's first dedicated fuel cell vehicle manufacturing facility in Japan.

Film producer Ron Yerxa will take delivery of the first FCX Clarity in July. The remaining four early adopters for Honda's next-generation fuel cell vehicle are author and actress Jamie Lee Curtis and her filmmaker husband Christopher Guest; business owner and car enthusiast Jim Salomon; actress Laura Harris; and Jon Spallino, already the world's first retail fuel cell vehicle customer, who has been leasing the current generation FCX since 2005. Yerxa, Harris and Spallino attended the event in Japan.

To provide its customers with outstanding sales and service support and as a critical step in advancing fuel cell vehicles in the real world, American Honda announced the establishment of the first network of dealers to facilitate the sales and service of fuel cell vehicles. The three Southern California Honda dealers are Power Honda Costa Mesa (Costa Mesa), Honda of Santa Monica (Santa Monica) and Scott Robinson Honda (Torrance).

"This is an important day in the history of fuel cell vehicle technology and a monumental step closer to the day when fuel cell cars will be part of the mainstream," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. "Our customers and dealers share in our vision for a cleaner and more sustainable transportation future, and share in our challenge to embrace a new generation of automotive technology that we think will carry the auto industry and its customers into the future."

FCX Clarity Customers

The five customers announced today were among the very first people to share with Honda their passion for the environment and interest in the FCX Clarity, dating back to its debut as a concept model at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show. The initial criteria for fuel cell vehicle ownership, including proximity to hydrogen refueling stations, driving patterns and vehicle needs, all played a part in Honda's customer selection process.

"Auto companies can't explore the potential for fuel cell technology as the ultimate solution to our world's energy and environmental challenges by ourselves. Our customers are true pioneers and leaders in the effort to bring fuel cell technology to the marketplace," said Mendel.

Ron Yerxa, a film producer and partner at Bona Fide Productions, is a long-time car enthusiast and advocate for the environment. He lives with his wife, Annette Ballester, in Santa Monica, California. Yerxa first learned of the FCX Concept vehicle from a car magazine and contacted American Honda to share his interest and enthusiasm.

Jon Spallino, partner and Chief Financial Officer of an Irvine, California-based engineering and construction firm and the world's first retail customer of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle, is excited to trade in his first-generation FCX for the all-new FCX Clarity. Having lived with fuel cell technology for three years now, Spallino and his family, residents of Redondo Beach, California, are looking forward to the all-new vehicle's vastly improved performance, enhanced features, improved fuel efficiency, and advanced four-door, four-passenger sedan design.

Actress and children's book author Jamie Lee Curtis and her husband, filmmaker Christopher Guest, also live with their family in Santa Monica. Curtis and Guest have owned other alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles, and they continue to seek out ways to live and advocate a greener lifestyle.

Jim Salomon, a business owner and car enthusiast, resides in Newport Beach, California with his family and will be American Honda's first retail customer to regularly refuel at the recently renovated Irvine hydrogen refueling station. Salomon and his family live in a home he designed and built with an emphasis on energy efficiency as well as recycled and sustainable materials.

Actress and green advocate Laura Harris learned about the FCX Clarity from a friend and test drove a prototype car at the Los Angeles auto show in November 2007. Canadian-born Harris lives in Silverlake, California, and will refuel primarily in Burbank. Lessons learned from her usage patterns and experiences can help pave the way for eventual market expansion outside of the Irvine, Torrance, and Santa Monica areas.

Honda previously announced plans to deliver about 200 FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles in the U.S. and Japan to customers in the first three years of production, with leases beginning in July. The lease program marks the world's first large-scale retail initiative for fuel cell vehicle technology.

First-ever Fuel Cell Vehicle Dealership Network

Reinforcing its commitment to further advance Honda fuel cell technology, American Honda announced that three Southern California dealerships will comprise the world's first fuel cell automobile dealership network. Power Honda Costa Mesa, Honda of Santa Monica and Scott Robinson Honda are each located in close proximity to hydrogen refueling stations and will be well-positioned to support Honda's growing base of FCX Clarity customers.

American Honda is working with its dealer partners to implement processes for fuel cell vehicle lease, delivery and service support for the duration of their leases. Establishing a dedicated sales network and service infrastructure provides customers with the best balance of convenience and the highest quality of service. When the FCX Clarity requires periodic maintenance, customers will simply schedule a visit with their local FCX Clarity dealer.
American Honda will perform all required work at its specialized fuel cell service facility, in the greater Los Angeles area. Upon completion of the work, the dealer will return the vehicle to the customer.

About the FCX Clarity

The FCX Clarity is a next-generation, hydrogen powered fuel cell-powered vehicle. Propelled by an electric motor that runs on electricity generated in the fuel cell, the vehicle's only emission is water, and its fuel efficiency is three times that of a modern gasoline-powered automobile. Based on the entirely-new Honda V Flow fuel cell platform, and powered by a highly compact, efficient and powerful new Honda V Flow fuel cell stack, the FCX Clarity marks the significant progress Honda continues to make in advancing the real-world performance and appeal of the fuel cell car. Significant advances over Honda's previous generation FCX include:

  • an advanced new four passenger sedan design
  • a greater than 30 percent increase in driving range up to 280 miles*
  • a 25 percent increase in combined fuel economy to 72 miles/kg-H2*
    (74 mpg GGE <miles per gallon gasoline gallon equivalent energy>)
  • a 50 percent improvement in fuel stack power output density by volume
  • a 40 percent smaller and 50 percent lighter new lithium ion battery pack

Honda is responsible for the development of the world's first fuel cell car (Honda FCX) to be certified for regular commercial use by the U.S. EPA and California Air Resources Board; the first deployment of a fuel cell car with a fleet customer; and the first individual retail customer for a fuel cell vehicle.

*Based on official 2008 EPA estimated range and fuel efficiency values

Related Press Release:
Production Begins for the New FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Vehicle
A number of new production processes showcased for the first time

Honda cares about Global Warming


Honda is continuing its industry-leading efforts to address the environmental challenges of global climate change, emissions reduction, and energy sustainability through a comprehensive approach that involves further improvements to gasoline engine fuel efficiency; the development of real-world alternatives to gasoline, including natural gas and the hydrogen-powered fuel cell car; and technology for refueling alternative fuel vehicles. Additionally, Honda is pursuing advances in technology related to energy systems such as solar cells, electrical co-generation, and the efficient creation of renewable bio-fuels as part of its effort to develop real world solutions to environmental challenges.

Improving Fuel Efficiency

  • Over the past 15 years, Honda has achieved the highest fleet-average automobile fuel efficiency of any automaker in the U.S., and is a leader in the development and application of technology to further improve the fuel efficiency of the gasoline engine. Honda is committed to further advancements in gasoline engine efficiency, with a focus on the broad application of fuel-efficient technologies, and with the introduction of new, more affordable hybrid vehicles and new clean diesel engine technology.
    • Honda will introduce two all-new hybrid cars with a focus on making hybrids more affordable and attainable for a larger number of customers:
      • A new, more affordable hybrid car with advanced styling, seating for five passengers, and Honda IMA hybrid technology at a price below the Civic Hybrid, to be introduced in 2009
      • A new sporty hybrid car based on the CR-Z Concept car, unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007.
  • A new generation of Honda 4-cylinder i-DTEC clean diesel engine technology that achieves U.S. EPA Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions standards and a 20-25 percent gain in fuel economy, to be introduced in an existing Acura model in the U.S and Canada in 2009. A clean diesel-powered Honda model with follow within several years.
  • Researching V6 clean diesel technology for possible future application to larger Honda and Acura vehicles and light trucks.
  • Second-generation Variable Cylinder ManagementTM (VCMTM) technology - with three, four and six cylinder operation - applied to the Accord V6 Sedan and Coupe, the all-new 2009 Pilot SUV and most versions of the Odyssey minivan.

Reducing Emissions

  • Honda has led all automakers in the introduction of virtually every low emissions vehicle technology requirement, including:
    • First gasoline-powered LEV, ULEV, SULEV, and AT-PZEV vehicles introduced to U.S. consumers.
    • For model year 2008, all new Honda and Acura vehicles meet or exceed U.S. EPA Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions standards.
    • Honda has been a leader in the application of cleaner, quieter and more efficient overhead valve (OHV) 4-stroke engines to its powersports and power equipment product lines. For model year 2008, all Honda motorcycles, including competition models, and all Honda power equipment lines, including more than 2 million small-displacement engines, use OHV 4-stroke engine technology.

Fuel Cell Technology

  • Fuel Cells - Honda has paced the industry in the development and deployment of zero-emissions hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology as well as the refueling infrastructure that will be required to take it to the mass market.
    • Honda introduced the world's first production fuel cell vehicle and first EPA-certified fuel cell car, the Honda FCX, in the U.S. and Japan in October 2002.
    • Honda's next-generation fuel cell car, the FCX Clarity, is the only fuel cell vehicle (FCV) built from the ground up as a FCV, and it is the first to be mass produced on a dedicated production line.
    • The FCX Clarity, with Honda's originally developed, compact and efficient V Flow fuel cell stack, achieves performance on par with a four-cylinder, five-passenger gasoline-powered sedan but with three times the fuel efficiency.
    • Honda aims to lease 200 FCX Clarity fuel cell cars to fleet and retail customers around the world, but primarily in North America, over the next three years.

Energy production and distribution

  • Honda is also developing refueling infrastructure to support fuel cell vehicles, including the fourth- generation development of its experimental Home Energy Station, which provides hydrogen from natural gas for vehicle refueling, heat for domestic hot water use and electricity for the home.
    • Solar - Honda R&D operates an experimental solar cell-powered hydrogen refueling station in Torrance, California. The station uses renewable energy to create hydrogen in a carbon-free energy cycle and employs next-generation, Honda-developed CIGS solar cells.
    • Natural Gas - Honda has sought to establish a pathway from gasoline to gaseous fuel alternatives with its natural gas-powered Civic GX and the PhillTM refueling technology.
      • The GX reduces CO2 output by 25 percent (compared to gasoline-powered compact car) and is certified as a Inherently Low Emissions Vehicle (ILEV). It is the only natural-gas powered passenger car available for sale in all 50 states, and it is eligible for a $4,000 federal tax credit.
      • The Phill home refueling appliance, developed by Honda and technology partner Fuelmaker Corp., provides a convenient refueling alternative to gas-stations and helps expand application of alternative fuel vehicle technology. Phill is also eligible for a $1,000 federal tax credit.
      • In 2005, Honda began sales of the natural gas-powered Civic GX to retail customers in California. Retail sales were expanded to dealers in New York State in 2006.

Advanced Cleaner Energy Research

  • Honda's efforts have gone beyond developing new vehicle technologies. Honda has focused its research and development resources on the creation of new sources of cleaner power to provide the energy required for future mobility.
    • Solar Cell - Honda-developed CIGS solar cells reduce by half the energy and CO2 emissions involved in their manufacture1. Honda began sales of the thin film compound solar cells in limited quantities in Japan in March 2007, and mass production is set to begin at its Kumamoto factory in fall 2007. Honda is utilizing the cells in an array at Honda R&D Americas U.S. headquarters, where solar energy is used to reform water in to hydrogen for refueling the Honda FCX fuel cell vehicle in a completely carbon free energy cycle.
    • FFVs - Honda has developed a new flexible fuel vehicle system that enables engines to operate on either 100 percent ethanol or a wide range of ethanol-gasoline fuel mixtures. In late 2006, Honda began sales of a flex-fuel Fit subcompact and Civic sedan in Brazil, where bio-ethanol derived from plant sources such as sugar cane has gained in popularity.
    • Bio-fuel - To address the need for more efficient means of producing bio-ethanol, Honda R&D and the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) are researching new technology to more efficiently produce ethanol from soft-biomass, a renewable resource of plant- derived material. The company has set up an experimental production facility at its Wako, Japan, R&D campus to further study the market potential of this technology.
    • MCHP - Honda in partnership with Climate Energy, LLC, has begun marketing a micro- combined heat and power cogeneration (MCHP) appliance called freewattTM to residential customer in the Northeastern U.S. The freewatt system generates electricity and heat for the home with an approximate 30-percent reduction in energy use and CO2 emissions.