Honda’s ground-breaking hydrogen fuel cell car, the FCX Clarity, has made its debut on UK roads today, in the first of a series of high-profile test drives to raise awareness of the zero emission technology.
Business Secretary, Vince Cable, was one of the first to drive the world’s only full-production fuel cell electric car following a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street.
He said: "I was pleased to be one of the first in the UK to test drive the Honda FCX Clarity and find out more about the potential for hydrogen fuel cell technology.
"The Government is keen to encourage all forms of low carbon vehicle technology such as hydrogen fuel cells, hybrids or significantly more efficient conventional vehicles," continued the Secretary of State.
Its Japanese carmaker brought the hydrogen car to the UK to inform and educate policy makers of the viability and potential of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which emit only water vapour from the exhaust.
Later this week, the FCX Clarity will be driven by other politicians, industry figures as Honda seeks to demonstrate the practicality, performance and range of its 5-door saloon model to encourage the development and adoption of hydrogen as a fuel in Europe.
"Petrol-electric hybrids – like our Civic, Insight and CR-Z models – are currently an effective way to reduce emissions from cars, but fuel cell electric cars are the ultimate environmental technology," says Dave Hodgetts, Managing Director of Honda (UK).
The FCX Clarity uses a store of hydrogen to produce electricity in its fuel cell stack. This electricity drives the car, giving a of around 270 miles, more more than a standard battery electric vehicle. Equally, hydrogen-powered vehicles would allow a quicker refuelling time than battery-run cars and could use existing refuelling infrastructure with a simple adaptation.
Honda is already leasing FCX Clarity vehicles in the US and Japan, where there are emerging infrastructures to support hydrogen-powered cars. Sadly there are no plans at present for the commercial introduction of the FCX Clarity in the UK.
However the FCX Clarity be appearing at the Low Carbon Vehicle Show at Millbrook Proving Ground this Thursday (September 16, 2010).
