Trident Honda News - Fcx

The UK's first open access hydrogen vehicle refuelling station has been officially opened at Honda's manufacturing facility in Swindon. Built and operated by industrial gases company BOC, a member of The Linde Group, the venture is the result of a partnership between Honda, BOC and economic development company Forward Swindon.

Based on the grounds of Honda of the UK Manufacturing in Swindon, the station aims to encourage the development of both hydrogen-powered vehicles - such as the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell car - and the refuelling infrastructure to support them.

Honda's hydrogen powered car, the FCX Clarity made a star appearance in Scotland this week (September 14th-18th) at the World Hydrogen Technologies Conference in Glasgow, at the SECC where more than 150 experts from around the world discussed the future of clean energy with hydrogen power playing a key role.

Honda's FCX Clarity is the ultimate solution to pollution free driving. It is fundamentally an electric car with hydrogen creating the electric onboard through a 'fuel cell stack'. The stack creates electricity from a reaction between hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen. This reaction has only one emission, pure water which comes out of the tailpipe in the form of vapour.

Honda unveiled the all-new Fit (Jazz) EV Concept electric vehicle and the platform for a mid-size plug-in hybrid vehicle. Both vehicles are integral to the Honda Electric Mobility Network, the company's comprehensive approach to reducing CO² emissions through innovative products, energy management and energy production technologies.

The Fit EV Concept hints strongly at the direction and styling for Honda's upcoming production Fit EV all-electric vehicle, which will be introduced to the US and Japan in 2012. The all-new plug-in hybrid platform showcases Honda's next-generation, two-motor hybrid technology set to debut in 2012.

Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor for Policing in London and Chair of the London Hydrogen Partnership, was among the first in the UK to drive Honda's hydrogen fuel cell car, the FCX Clarity, yesterday at City Hall in London.

Mr Malthouse, Chair of the London Hydrogen Partnership, said:

Honda's ground-breaking hydrogen fuel cell car, the FCX Clarity, has made its debut on UK roads, in the first of a series of high-profile test drives to raise awareness of the zero emission technology.

Business Secretary, Vince Cable, was one of the first to drive the world's only production fuel cell electric car following a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street.

He said:

Honda is pushing ahead with its plans to begin mass-production of its hydrogen fuel-cell-powered FCX Clarity, despite the slow take-up of hydrogen technology.

In the U.S, a key market for hydrogen technology, the Obama administration has publicly backed electric car technology and has consistently distanced itself from creating a hydrogen network.

Honda's FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell car has been announced as the World Green Car at the New York International Auto Show.

The FCX Clarity was chosen from an initial entry list of 22 contenders nominated by 59 World Car jurors from 25 countries throughout the world and is the second time Honda has won the award with the Civic Hybrid receiving the same honour in 2006.

Official pictures of the UK-spec Honda Insight hybrid have leaked onto the web ahead of this weekend's Detroit motor show.

The UK version of Honda's new 'affordable hybrid' differs only slightly from the production-ready US model unveiled at the end of last year, with new clear indicator lenses and conventional round fog lights.

Honda America has announced that three southern California motor retailers will comprise its first fuel cell dealer network in the world. Power Honda Costa Mesa, Honda of Santa Monica and Scott Robinson Honda in Torrance have been selected as each is located in close proximity to hydrogen refueling stations and will be well-positioned to support Honda's growing base of customers of its FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell car.

Honda unveiled the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show, announcing plans to begin limited retail marketing of the vehicle in the US, starting summer 2008.

Tetsuo Iwamura - American Honda president and CEO - said:

The FCX Clarity is a shining symbol of the progress we've made with fuel cell vehicles