Honda, fuel-cell vehicles

In Albany, NY, the state government started leasing Honda FCX hydrogen fuel cell cars on a cold November morning. Previous fuel cell vehicle demonstration programs have occurred in warmer areas to ensure that the fuel cell stacks would not freeze up. Subzero temperatures can change any liquid water present into expanding ice crystals that can puncture thin membranes or crack water lines. Honda has demonstrated that their fuel cell units can operate under winter conditions, this was an important achievement for practical fuel cell cars. 

In addition to GM, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Honda, Toyota and others have spent billions developing alternative fuel vehicles. GM wants to become the first carmaker to sell a million fuel cell vehicles and hopes to have them on the market by 2010. 

Fuel cells have moved remarkably quickly from laboratory to road testing. The City of Los Angeles, California, USA, recently leased the first of five Honda FCX models as part of a demonstration program designed to generate real road data. And, DaimlerChrysler is currently testing 60 Mercedes-Benz "F-Cell" A-Class fuel cell vehicles with demonstration partners under everyday conditions. 

Honda, a Japanese manufacturer, develops a practical fuel cell vehicle. 

Honda uses Ballard Mark 902 cells in it FCX demonstration 78 kW fuel cell vehicle, which has power storage in an ultra-capacitor of Honda manufacture (see the 2002 press release 31247/24072 as listed on the Honda web site). 

Toyota introduced the world s first fuel cell vehicles into the commercial market in 2002, simultaneously with Honda. As shown in Fig. 4-4, the first customers were the Japanese government, which leased four FCHVs, and the University of California at Irvine and the University of California at Davis, which leased one FCHV each. As of May 2003, these six FCHVs had logged over 17,000 km. User response has been positive. Customers appreciate the smooth acceleration and quiet, comfortable ride. 

The FCX-V2 uses a Honda designed fuel cell and reformer. Miniaturizing an efficient methanol reformer remained to be done since both test cars had room only for a driver and passenger. Fuel cell equipment took up the rear seats. The need to test fuel cell cars under real-life conditions is one reason Honda joined DaimlerChrysler in the California Fuel Cell Partnership. Honda recently announced the first lease of its advanced FCX fuel cell vehicle. 

Figure 1 shows the XCELLSiS Zebus (Zero Emission Bus) and Honda s PCX fuel cell vehicle at the SunEine Transit Agency hydrogen refueling station in the Coachella Valley. SunEine plans to have a number of fuel cell buses by 2003. 

Honda Worldwide (2005a). Development of the Honda FCX, a Pioneer Fuel Cell Vehicle for the Future. Honda Motor Co. Ltd. Available at http //world.honda.com. Honda Worldwide (2005b). Specifications The Honda FCX. Honda Motor Co. Ltd. Available at http //world.honda.com. 

Joint Technology Initiative on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell). The aim of the tour was to give the respective audience the possibility to test fuel cell vehicles from Daimler, Toyota, Hyundai and Honda. Additionally there have been official lectures and events in the cities of Hamburg, Diisseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, London, Copenhagen und Bolzano to present the technical status of fuel cell vehicles as well as hydrogen infrastructure [11],... 

Honda (2010) Honda Fuel cell electric vehicle. http //world.honda.com/FuelCell/... 

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