First FCX Clarity rolls off the production line

The first production hydrogen fuelled car, the Honda FCX Clarity, rolled off the Japanese car makers’ production line on Tuesday.

The car powered by a hydrogen fuel cell stack, converting the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, and emitting only water vapour is the only production car of its kind in the world.

Sales will begin next month in the US and in the autumn in Japan with no plans yet to introduce it to the UK or European markets as yet, due to the lack of infrastructure in hydrogen fuelling stations.

Honda is expecting to produce and sell just 70 cars a year, with 200 in 3 years being sold in total.

The cars will be sold on a three year lease deal costing US customers $600, equivalent to just under £300, per month including maintenance.

However although Honda sees the Clarity and fuel cell technology as the future in reducing carbon emissions and fuel consumption it sees hybrid technology as the best short term solution.

It has emphasized this by developing a more affordable hybrid to go on sale in the UK next year that the company hopes will bring the technology within the reach of more people.

June 20^th 2008

• Car crash victim awarded compensation
• Lorry demo fuel party
• Stingers to catch fuel thieves
• Urban streets to get 20 mph limit in Government bid to cut road deaths
• Pocket money car chase
• Drivers on hay fever alert
• Reminders for the second phase of Transport for London’s Low Emission Zone
• Vehicle Safety Awards presented to Subaru
• Motorists are hiding the truth on claims
• Vehicle checks take place in Cumbria
• Uninsured vehicle causes collision
• Seat safety tests help reduce whiplash injuries