| More Environment-Friendly, Fuel Cell Powered | | | | stations. |
| Hondas to Traverse the Streets of Los Angeles | | | | |
| Soon | | | | If fuel cell powered cars ever become |
| | | | popular, gas stations may soon have to start |
| This is the latest buzz words in the car | | | | supplying hydrogen as well as their regular |
| industry, but what is it really all about? | | | | petroleum based products. But since currently |
| | | | there are only a handful of them around, this |
| Honda FCX powered by Honda fuel cells. | | | | may be far from happening. |
| | | | |
| It has been two years since Honda released | | | | Until then, Honda will continue to do some |
| the Honda FCX which has become the first fuel | | | | research on other possible solutions. An |
| cell vehicle in the world to receive | | | | experimental Home Energy Station (HES) is |
| government certification, paving the way for | | | | seen as the most feasible. The HES could |
| the commercial use of fuel cell vehicles. | | | | generate hydrogen from natural gas for use in |
| This comes as no surprise as Honda has always | | | | fuel cell vehicles while supplying |
| been an advocate of environmental | | | | electricity and hot water to the home. The |
| consciousness and a pioneer in developing | | | | new HES system that has been jointly |
| cutting edge technology in protecting the | | | | developed with strategic fuel cell partner |
| environment. The fuel-cell is propelled by | | | | Plug Power Inc. is located on the grounds of |
| electricity generated by a hydrogen-oxygen | | | | Honda R&D Americas in Torrance, California, |
| chemical reaction, and its only emission, | | | | and will undergo experiments in hydrogen |
| amazingly, is water vapor. Now, with a fresh | | | | production, storage and fueling, as part of |
| stamp of approval from the Environmental | | | | ongoing research into hydrogen energy |
| Protection Agency and the California Air | | | | sources. The new HES system, which can |
| Resources Board, Honda is delivering a family | | | | currently produce enough hydrogen to refill |
| of new FCX fuel-cell vehicles to its first | | | | the tank of a Honda FCX hydrogen fuel cell |
| customer, the city of Los Angeles, known for | | | | vehicle taking just a few minutes once a day. |
| its strict environmental emission rules to | | | | |
| eliminate the overwhelming air pollution | | | | Honda's dedication to a greener and cleaner |
| already at its midst. | | | | environment. |
| | | | |
| The latest version of Honda fuel cells | | | | Honda started research and development on |
| delivers about 15% more maximum drive motor | | | | fuel cells in 1989. Ten years after they have |
| torque than the previous prototypes and also | | | | been road testing fuel cell powered vehicles |
| provides improvements in mid-to-high range | | | | in the US and Japan. Honda is a member of the |
| power output characteristics and | | | | California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) |
| acceleration. It also has an amplified | | | | based in Sacramento, California, and has been |
| driving range of 220 miles, about 25 miles | | | | working closely with that organization. |
| more than the previous model. | | | | |
| | | | Honda has had a long history of environmental |
| How does the fuel cell work? | | | | breakthroughs and dedication with their |
| | | | automobiles. Even from way back in 1975, |
| In principle, a fuel cell functions like a | | | | Honda scored it big with their CVCC as being |
| battery. Dissimilar from a battery though, a | | | | the first vehicle to meet the amended Clean |
| fuel cell does not run down or require | | | | Air act standard. Honda was also the first |
| recharging. It will produce energy in the | | | | auto company to produce a vehicle, the Honda |
| form of electricity and heat as long as fuel | | | | Civic, to meet the low emission vehicle (LEV) |
| is supplied. The type of fuel cell used in | | | | standard in all 50 states and the first to |
| the Honda FCX is called a Polymer electrolyte | | | | sell a gasoline car meeting first |
| fuel cell. Powered by Hydrogen gas the fuel | | | | California's Ultra Low Emission Vehicle |
| cell provides power to the FCX's AC | | | | standard and subsequently the "Super" ULEV |
| synchronous electric motor to give the FCX a | | | | standard (Accord). |
| top speed of around 93 mph. With engine | | | | |
| output at around 60kW, Honda claims the clean | | | | Honda was also the first to sell a combined |
| FCX has similar performance to the its petrol | | | | gasoline and electric powered vehicle, the |
| drinking brother, the Honda Civic. Fuel | | | | Insight, in the U.S. and early in 2002 they |
| Cells produce electricity from an external | | | | introduced the Civic Hybrid, it was the first |
| fuel supply as opposed to the limited | | | | mass marketed hybrid model. The Civic GX was |
| internal energy storage capacity of a | | | | the first dedicated mass-produced natural gas |
| battery. | | | | vehicle when it went on sale in 1998 and has |
| | | | been recognized by the EPA, as the cleanest |
| A fuel cell system, which includes a "fuel | | | | internal combustion engine in the world. |
| reformer", can utilize the hydrogen from any | | | | Truly, Honda understands the need for |
| hydrocarbon fuel - from natural gas to | | | | environmental care and the total independence |
| methanol, and even gasoline. Since the fuel | | | | in the future for petroleum based products to |
| cell relies on chemistry and not combustion, | | | | fuel their engines. |
| emissions from this type of a system would | | | | |
| still be much smaller than emissions from the | | | | With all of this new technology cropping up, |
| cleanest fuel combustion processes. In fact | | | | the motoring world doesn't seem like it used |
| fuel cells running on hydrogen derived from a | | | | to be. The good thing is it all boils down to |
| renewable source will emit nothing but water | | | | consumer preference. Many products though |
| vapor. Water vapor being its only exhaust, a | | | | cater to the whole welfare of the people even |
| fuel cell powered vehicle such as the Honda | | | | when it is channeled through too many |
| FCX produces completely no harmful emissions | | | | aspects. What is inevitable is that no mater |
| into the atmosphere. | | | | how efficient and durable your vehicle is, it |
| | | | will be subjected to wear and tear. Constant |
| Fuel cells were first used in a practical | | | | use and driving calls for constant |
| application by NASA in the 1960's for their | | | | maintenance and preventive maintenance also, |
| Apollo space program. For decades sensible | | | | at Auto Parts Train we continually update our |
| fuel cell application was regarded as too | | | | catalogs to provide the most complete and |
| costly and too difficult for automobile | | | | comprehensive lineup of superb Honda parts. |
| usage. Through constant research and | | | | With 25 years of experience we know that the |
| development its utilization may become a | | | | automobile industry constantly evolves and |
| reality, the only problem that crops up is | | | | new technology crops up every now and then. |
| the source for refueling. | | | | You can be sure that we are always on our |
| | | | guard for a high end Honda part. |
| Honda's proposed solution for refueling | | | | |