Hydrogen cars are on our streets now

Honda's FCX fuel cell car on L.A.'s streets

In his State of the Union speech Tuesday evening, President Bush gave the automotive fuel cell industry a $1.2 billion boost, asking Congress to pass legislation to fund fuel cell research. The president is patient, however, noting in his speech that the industry should set a goal of having every child who’s born today driving a fuel cell-powered car when they grow up.

That’s 16 years or so and while most major automakers are researching fuel cell cars now and are planning to introduce fuel cell cars over the next decade, their biggest challenge will be in getting people to buy them. Also, in auto economics a billion dollars isn’t a lot of money.

A fuel cell car driving our streets now. The Honda FCX is the only fuel cell car certified for commercial use and the city of Los Angeles today took delivery, last month, of a Honda FCX. The Honda FCX being leased by the city will be used in normal, everyday use and was delivered in a ceremony that included Mayor Jim Hahn and Hiroyuki Yoshino, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., at city hall.

The hydrogen-powered Honda FCX is the only fuel cell vehicle certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and U.S. EPA for everyday commercial use. Under the two-year lease agreement, the city of LA will pay $500 a month to lease the first of five Honda FCX models with the other four vehicles being delivered in ther next few months. In addition, Honda has contracted with Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., based in Allentown, Pa. with local operations in El Segundo, to provide the hydrogen fuel and refueling infrastructure.

BMW's hydrogen powered MINI

"This is a very exciting day for the city of Los Angeles as it takes a major, national leadership role in putting hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles into practical, everyday use," Hahn said. "Los Angeles City employees will use these fuel cell vehicles on a day-to-day basis, just like any other pool vehicle. Hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles hold great promise for future clean air vehicles and it is important that L.A. play a leading role in assisting in the development and early use of this technology. Working with Honda Motor company, which has a long history of firsts in developing environmentally sound vehicles, adds to the great prospect for continued air quality improvements for the citizens of Los Angeles."

Honda plans to lease about 30 fuel cell cars in California and Japan during the next two to three years. The company currently has no plans, however, for mass-market sales of fuel cell vehicles or sales to individuals.

"The future of the fuel cell vehicle shows great promise in reducing the global dependence on oil, and our association with the great City of Los Angeles is an important step in the pursuit of this goal," said Yoshino.

Both CARB and the EPA have certified the Honda FCX as a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV). The FCX uses hydrogen supplied to a fuel cell "stack" to generate electricity that powers its electric motor.

With an output of up to 80 horsepower and 201 foot-pounds of torque, acceleration is similar to a Honda Civic. Water vapor is the only exhaust. The FCX has a range of up to 170 miles and seating for four people, making it practical for a wide range of real-world applications.

Honda undertook fuel cell research in 1989 and has been road testing vehicles in the United States since 1999. Honda has also been a member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership based in Sacramento, Calif., since 1999.

BMW Group is the first automobile manufacturer in the world to begin serial production of a hydrogen powered vehicle. In the coming years, approximately the same amount will be invested in this future-oriented project as in a new vehicle series. Dr. Burhard Göschel, Director of Development and Purchasing for the BMW Group stated, "We will be supplying hydrogen-powered vehicles to customers during the production cycle of the new 7 Series."

BMW has been researching engines and vehicles for operation with liquid hydrogen since 1978. The first practical tests with automobile prototypes came a year later. As early as 1984, the second generation went on the road, replaced again in 1988. In 1996, the fourth generation was put to simulated everyday use. On May 11, 2000, BMW was the first automobile manufacturer in the world to present a small series of saloons with hydrogen power, the BMW 750hL. At the IAA 2001, the BMW Group then presented the BMW 745h with the new CleanEnergy engine, based on the new 7 Series, and a hydrogen study of the MINI.

"Our choice is the combustion engine because we are convinced that our customers will attach importance to dynamic performance, comfort and range in the future, too", said Dr. Burkhard Göschel.

With today’s technology, the combustion engine is the only drive form that offers the unique advantage of running economically on a bivalent basis–i.e. using both petrol and hydrogen. This will bridge gaps of supply, which are bound to occur, as the network of hydrogen filling stations are gradually being established. Motorists who decide for CleanEnergy will keep the range and drivability they are used to.

The BMW 750hL reflects the state of the art in hydrogen technology. The luxurious limousines were used for a shuttle service for the entire duration of the EXPO 2000 world exhibition, demonstrating to passengers their ability to fulfil the very highest demands in terms of comfort, dynamic performance and everyday utility value. Running on hydrogen, the 12-cylinder engine delivers 150 kW/204 bhp, accelerating from 0–100 km in 9.6 seconds and reaching a maximum speed of 226 km/h. With the 140-litre cryogenic fuel tank, the fully equipped BMW 7 Series has a range of over 300 kilometres. In addition, a conventional gasoline fuel supply is provided to allow for the still fragmentary hydrogen supply situation.