Honda Tests Hydrogen-Powered FCX with Private Family for First Time

Another Milestone on the Road to a Hydrogen Economy

According to industry experts, it will be approximately ten years before hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles arrive on the market for mass production, but for one lucky Californian family that has just leapfrogged to the front of the line for what might become one of the most important automotive-related technologies in the new century.

Earlier this week, John and Sandy Spallino and their two children took delivery of a Honda FCX, and in so doing were given the opportunity to lease the special vehicle from American Honda Motor Company in the industrys first long-term private test of fuel cell technology.

Normally fuel cell vehicles are incorporated into large company or government fleets, so therefore the opportunity to see how a real-world family makes use of Hondas environmental flagship prototype will be of great interest to all involved in the hydrogen fuel cell industry.

From the rigors of day to day use, engineers and project managers will learn about how the FCX copes with real-world driving experiences. Honda hopes to obtain feedback from private users in order to enhance the everyday practicality of its fuel cell vehicles, should the automaker decide to pursue producing the FCX on a larger scale. While the FCX looks like an average Honda, with its inoffensive styling and conventional shape, it is actually built by hand at a fairly high cost.

As a part of the 48-month long test, the family will use their blue and silver four-seat FCX as daily transportation, to run errands, take the kids to and from school, groceries, and anything else they need to do. John will use the FCX for his 80-mile round-trip commute to and from his home in Redondo Beach, and work place in Irvine, California.

There is a price to be paid by the Spallinos, of course, one that no doubt will be saved at the pump. The Californian family will pay a lease price of $500 USD per month, which includes insurance, maintenance and, of course, the use of the vehicle.

The Spallinos were amongst the first to be contacted for the trial as they are

currently owners of a natural-gas powered Honda Civic GX, and are familiar with the inconveniences of finding refueling stations that stock natural gas. With approximately thirty hydrogen-fueling stations in the United States, the issue of gassing up might be a little more difficult with the FCX. Fortunately, with half the hydrogen fueling stations located in California, luck is on the familys side.

Spallino counts at least four stations on his daily trip, including one at Hondas Torrance, California headquarters, and another at the Los Angeles International Airport. Interestingly, the fueling depot at LAX wont be open to the public for another five years, although it will be available for government use and now the Spallino family to refuel their environmentally friendly Honda.

Though Honda is the first to put a fuel cell powered vehicle into the hands of the consumer, other manufacturers arent far behind. Both Ford and General Motors are experimenting with different types of hydrogen-power mechanisms, while BMW has established a fleet of hydrogen-powered 7-Series sedans and MINI Coopers to demonstrate usability.

While development of hydrogen-powered vehicles is on a global scale, one of the epicenters of the ZEV Hydrogen wave is California. Whats made the boom possible is Governor Arnold Schwarzeneggers ability to link the manufacturers, refueling companies and end users by committing to create the so-called "hydrogen highway"; a network of hydrogen fueling systems. To be completed in five years time, the hydrogen highway would allow private owners to fill up at various locations throughout Los Angeles and elsewhere in California, thus eliminating the greatest problem with hydrogen-powered vehicles, a refueling infrastructure.

In five years time, if the technology, reliability and safety of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have been established, and pricing has been adjusted to the point where consumers can afford to buy into a hydrogen economy, expect to see an entirely new breed of environmentally friendly vehicle roaming the streets of California, and hopefully beyond.