The Honda FCX has become the first fuel-cell vehicle in the world to receive government certification, paving the way for commercial use of such vehicles, American Honda Motor Co. said Wednesday.
The company said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board have certified the hydrogen-powered Honda FCX as meeting all applicable standards.
The FCX has been certified by the California body as a Zero Emission Vehicle and by the EPA as a Tier-2 Bin 1, National Low Emission Vehicle, the lowest national emission rating.
The FCX will also meet applicable U.S. safety and occupant protection standards, Honda said.
The automaker said it will start a lease program for a limited number of FCXs in the U.S and Japan this year.
During the first two or three years, Honda will lease about 30 fuel-cell vehicles in California and Tokyo, two locations with access to a hydrogen fuel supply infrastructure.
The company said it currently has no plans for mass-market sales of fuel-cell vehicles.
"Certification allows Honda to place fuel-cell vehicles in commercial operation," American Honda Executive Vice President Tom Elliott said. "We'll have an opportunity to evaluate fuel-cell vehicles in real world applications and to study the development of a refueling infrastructure to support fuel-cell vehicles."
Elliott, however, warned that significant cost, technology and infrastructure issues remain before the vehicles can be mass marketed.
The FCX has a driving range of 350 km.
