American Honda Leases 2005 Honda FCX Fuel Cell Vehicles to New York State

American Honda Leases 2005 Honda FCX Fuel Cell Vehicles to New
York State
New York is First Customer for 2005 FCX With Breakthrough Honda FC Stack 


ALBANY, N.Y., Nov. 16  /PRNewswire/ -- American Honda today announced the lease
of two 2005 Honda FCX fuel cell vehicles to the state of New York, the first
state customer for Honda fuel cell technology and the first customer for a fuel
cell vehicle in the Northeastern U.S.  The 2005 FCX is powered by Honda's
originally developed fuel cell stack (Honda FC Stack) with the breakthrough
ability to start and operate in sub-freezing temperatures, making it possible
to place the car in New York state for year-round operation.  The announcement
was made in ceremonies held today in the state capitol of Albany with New York
Governor George Pataki and American Honda president Koichi Kondo.

"I would like to commend the Governor and the people of New York for their
vision and for taking this bold step toward a more sustainable energy future,
and also thank them for becoming a customer for Honda fuel cell technology,"
said Koichi Kondo, president and CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.  "This
is a great day for Honda and the State of New York."

"New York is pleased to partner with Honda to lease these innovative fuel cell
vehicles, which utilize emerging technology to significantly reduce energy use,
clean our air and help break our dependence on oil," said New York Governor
George E. Pataki.  "Fuel cells have the potential to revolutionize the
transportation and energy industries and we are proud that the State will play
a major role in helping to develop the next generation of clean, energy
efficient vehicles for commercial use.  Our commitment to developing a hydrogen
economy and our leadership in promoting the use of clean energy technologies
are helping to create new jobs and industries right here in New York.  Our
efforts will ensure that our businesses and residents continue to reap the
economic and environmental benefits of this emerging world market."

The State will lease two hydrogen-powered 2005 FCX fuel cell vehicles for a
period of two years with delivery of the first vehicle scheduled to take place
in December, followed by the second vehicle in mid-2005.

In addition to its sub freezing operation qualities, the 2005 FCX has increased
range and performance and a 50-percent reduction in the number of component
parts.  With the adoption of a new structure featuring stamped metal
separators, the Honda FC Stack contains only half the components of earlier
prototype units while delivering an almost 20 percent increase in range and
fuel efficiency and a 33 percent increase in peak power output.  Use of newly
developed aromatic electrolyte membranes greatly improves durability and allows
for power generation at temperatures ranging from -4 degrees F to +203 degrees
F.

The Honda FCX converts compressed gaseous hydrogen into electricity for motive
power with water as its only emission.  The 2005 FCX has a range of up to 190
miles and seating for four people, making it practical for a wide range of
real-world applications.  The Honda FCX is the world's most advanced fuel cell
vehicle and the first and only fuel cell car to be certified by both the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB)
for regular daily use.

The State of New York is the fifth U.S. customer for the FCX and the first
state FCX customer.  With the addition of the two New York vehicles, Honda will
have twelve fuel cell vehicles in regular daily use with customers in
California and New York.  The City of Los Angeles became Honda's first fuel
cell customer in December 2002 with the lease of five FCX hydrogen-powered fuel
cell cars.  In March 2004, the City of San Francisco took delivery of two
leased vehicles followed by the delivery of two vehicles to California's South
Coast Air Quality Management District in August and one vehicle to the City of
Chula Vista on November 10.

The Honda FCX was developed as part of Honda's ongoing development and
real-world application of advanced fuel cell technologies, in pursuit of
critical environmental goals including improved energy efficiency, reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions, improved recycleability and use of alternative fuels
with potential for energy sustainability.  Honda undertook fuel cell research
in the early 1980s and has been driving on public roads in the United States
since 2000.

Honda also leads the automobile industry in the development of cleaner and more
efficient gasoline-powered vehicles including gas-electric hybrid technology. 
This includes the introduction of America's first hybrid vehicle, the Honda
Insight, in December 1999, and the first truly mainstream hybrid vehicle, the
Civic Hybrid, in March 2002.  This December, Honda will put its Integrated
Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid technology in its best-selling Accord Sedan, boasting
V6 performance with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder, compact class, Civic.

For more information or downloadable high-resolution images of the Honda FCX
and other Honda vehicles, please visit http://www.hondanews.com/. Consumer
information is available at http://www.hondacars.com/.

                  Honda Fuel Cell Technology Milestones

   2004

   *  2005 FCX, Honda's second generation FCV, is certified by CARB as a
      Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) and by the EPA as a Tier-2 Bin 1 (ZEV).
   *  The City of Chula Vista takes delivery of one FCX vehicle.
   *  South Coast Air Quality Management District takes delivery of two FCX
      vehicles.
   *  The City of San Francisco takes delivery of two FCX vehicles.
   *  Honda FC Stack is publicly demonstrated in Japan in below freezing
      conditions.

   2003

   *  Honda develops breakthrough fuel cell stack (Honda FC Stack) that
      starts and operates at temperatures below freezing while improving
      fuel economy, range and performance with reduced complexity and
      potential for reduced cost.
   *  The city of Los Angeles takes delivery of three more FCX vehicles.
   *  Honda showcases fuel cell technology at 2003 Challenge Bibendum.
   *  Honda begins experiments with hydrogen Home Energy Station (HES) and
      improves solar cell technology for production of hydrogen.

   2002

   *  The 2003 model year Honda FCX becomes the first and only hydrogen-
      powered fuel cell vehicle to receive both EPA and CARB certification
      for commercial use.
   *  The City of Los Angeles begins a lease program with two Honda FCX
      vehicles, the world's first commercial application of a fuel cell
      vehicle.

   2001

   *  The first solar powered hydrogen production and fueling station built
      and operated by an auto company opens in Southern California at Honda
      R&D Americas headquarters in Torrance, California, as part of Honda's
      fuel cell technology and infrastructure development efforts.
   *  Fuel cell prototype vehicle FCX-V4 is introduced.

   2000

   *  Honda introduces and demonstrates fuel cell prototype vehicle FCX-V3
      at the California Fuel Cell Partnership in Sacramento, California.

   1999

   *  Honda Introduces fuel cell prototype vehicles FCX-V1 and FCX-V2.


                      2005 Honda FCX Specifications


  Name                                  Honda FCX with Honda FC Stack
  Number of occupants                   4
  Max. Speed                            93 mph


  Motor               Max. Output       80kW (107 hp)
                      Max. Drive        272N * m (201 lb-ft)
                      Type              AC synchronous electric motor
                                        (manufactured by Honda)

  Fuel cell stack     Type              Honda Fuel Cell Stack
                                        PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane
                                        fuel cell)
                      Output            86 kW

  Fuel                Type              Compressed hydrogen gas
                      Storage           High-pressure hydrogen tank
                                        (5000 psi)
                      Capacity          3.75 kilograms hydrogen

  Dimensions
   (L x W x H, mm)                      4165 x 1760 x 1645

  Energy storage                        Ultra capacitor
                                        (manufactured by Honda)

  Vehicle range
   (EPA rated)                          190 miles




For more information or downloadable high-resolution images of the Honda FCX
and other Honda vehicles, please visit http://www.hondanews.com/. Consumer
information is available at http://www.hondacars.com/. 

DATASOURCE: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.



CONTACT:  Andy Boyd of American Honda, [phone]



Web site:  http://www.hondanews.com/

Web site:  http://www.hondacars.com/ 

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