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Corporate February 13, 2001 |
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| New Honda Fuel Cell-Powered Vehicle Begins Road Tests in California |
Tokyo, February 13, 2001 -
Honda Motor Co., Ltd., today announced the start of public road testing
of a new version of its FCX-V3 fuel cell vehicle, equipped with fuel cell
stacks developed by Honda. Honda, which is participating in the California
Fuel Cell Partnership program (CaFCP), first began public road testing last
November when the program started.
Earlier FCX versions were powered by fuel cells developed by Ballard Power
Systems, Inc., including the FCX-V1 introduced in 1999 and an earlier version
of the FCX-V3 introduced last November. This latest version is the result
of Honda research into improving the performance and reliability of its
own fuel stack, so as to achieve the level required for public road testing.
The tests in California will help verify the market feasibility of Honda's
fuel cell technology.
The FCX-V3 with Honda FC Stack can seat up to four persons and features
the startup performance and quiet operation of the FCX-V3. It is also equipped
with an ultra-capacitor, which contributes to improved start-up speed and
acceleration performance, as well as highly efficient energy management.
As before, the vehicle is fueled by hydrogen stored under high pressure.
The California Fuel Cell Partnership is a joint-participation project that
includes the California Air Resources Board (CARB), private petroleum companies,
auto manufacturers and fuel cell stack manufacturers. The objective of the
project is to study and verify future prospects, requirements for infrastructure,
mass production issues, and other aspects related to the eventual introduction
and promotion of fuel cell vehicles. Honda is in fundamental agreement with
the future-oriented goals and approaches being undertaken by CaFCP, which
is why the company has conducted driving tests based in Sacramento, California,
since the start of CaFCP last November.
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| FCX-V3
with Honda FC Stack |
Honda
FC Stack |
| * Click here
to see the image enlarged. |
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FCX-V3 with Honda FC Stack: System Layout (Conceptual)
FCX-V3 with Honda
FC Stack: Specifications
| Maximum Speed |
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130km/h |
| Vehicle Weight |
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1,750kg |
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| Motor |
Maximum Power Output |
60kW |
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Maximum Torque |
238Nm |
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Motor Type |
Permanent magnet AC
synchronous |
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| Fuel Cell Stack |
Stack Type |
PEFC (Polymer Electrolyte
Fuel
Cell - developed by Honda) |
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Power Output |
70kW |
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| Fuel |
Fuel Type |
Pure hydrogen |
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Storage Method |
High-pressure hydrogen
storage
tank (250 atmospheres) |
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Fuel Capacity |
100 liters |
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