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