Honda Delivers FCX Fuel Cell
Vehicle to First Individual Customer
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. recently announced the lease of its FCX,
an advanced hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle, to the world’s first
individual customers, Jon and Sandy Spallino of Redondo Beach, Calif.
The Spallinos become the world’s first fuel cell family, having signed
an agreement to lease a 2005 Honda FCX for a period of two years.
Honda is the only automotive manufacturer to certify its fuel cell
vehicle for regular daily use, and the first to offer its technology to
an individual customer, the company says. The Spallinos will use the FCX
in everyday normal use, including commuting to work to Orange County,
trips to school for their children, shopping and household errands.
“American Honda Motor Co. is thrilled to introduce the world’s first
full cell family,” said John Mendel, senior vice president, automotive
operations, American Honda. “We’re pleased to be taking this historic
step forward in the further advancement of our fuel cell program. Our
advanced fuel cell technology has been proven and tested through a
successful fleet sales partnership over the last three years. With this
announcement, Honda furthers its commitment to the continued advancement
of this technology for the benefit of society, with the ultimate goal of
achieving large-scale commercialization of fuel cell vehicles.”
The Spallino family, living in the Los Angeles area, will be among the
first individuals to begin utilizing the first of California’s Hydrogen
Highway refueling stations, a statewide infrastructure build out
underway to offer hydrogen refueling station access to private
individuals. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the
state’s commitment to a Hydrogen Highway in April of this year, creating
a public and private partnership to build California’s Hydrogen Highway
by 2010.
The lease of the FCX to the Spallino family will be the first of several
FCX vehicles to be leased to individual customers over the next year.
Honda also has a fleet of 13 FCX fuel cell vehicles in regular daily use
with six public municipal customers in California, New York and Nevada.
“With its outstanding environmental benefits, advanced technology and
safety-tested performance, the FCX is proving every day its viability as
the transportation technology of the future,” said Mendel. “The
Spallino’s experience with the FCX will provide Honda engineers with
real-world driving experience and feedback by an individual family,
which will be invaluable as we design future models.”
The Honda FCX is the first and only hydrogen vehicle to ever be
certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
California’s Air Resources Board (CARB). The EPA certified the 2005 FCX
as a Tier-2 Bin 1, and CARB certified the FCX as a Zero Emission Vehicle
(ZEV).
The 2005 FCX model is powered by Honda’s originally developed fuel cell
stack (Honda FC Stack), with the capability to start and operate at
sub-freezing temperatures as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit, along with
increased performance, range and fuel efficiency compared with earlier
models. The FCX was the first fuel cell vehicle to be listed in the
EPA’s fuel economy guide in 2003. The 2005 FCX carries an EPA
city/highway rating of 62/51 miles per gallon and a range of 190 miles.
Published 07/14/2005
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