Tokyo, December 3, 2002 ---
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. delivered a Honda FCX fuel cell vehicle yesterday
(December 2nd) to the Japanese Prime Minister's Official Residence. The
vehicle, built to Japanese specifications, is being leased by the Cabinet
Office. On the same day (U.S. Pacific Standard Time) another Honda FCX built
to U.S. specifications was delivered to Los Angeles City Hall in the U.S.
The FCX is the world's first fuel cell vehicle to obtain U.S. government
approval for commercialization.
Present at the delivery ceremony at the Prime Minister's Official Residence
were Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
Takeo Hiranuma, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Chikage Ogi,
Minister of the Environment Shunichi Suzuki, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo
Fukuda, and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe. At the ceremony,
Honda President & CEO Hiroyuki Yoshino made the following statement: "In
an environment of intense international competition to develop fuel-cell
vehicle technology, I am extremely happy to be able to deliver the world's
first fuel-cell passenger vehicle for official use here today. While proud
of the performance of this vehicle, we are aware of the challenges to be
overcome before the fuel-cell vehicle can enjoy more widespread use. We
will continue to show our leadership worldwide in this vital area of technological
development." Honda plans to lease more fuel cell vehicles to other government
ministries and to corporations.
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| Vehicle delivery ceremony at the Prime Minister's Official Residence |
Another vehicle delivery ceremony took place at Los Angeles City Hall, with
Mayor James K. Hahn in attendance. "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 Honda President & CEO Hiroyuki Yoshino.
The City of Los Angeles has agreed to lease five Honda FCX's, including
the one delivered at this ceremony. They will be used by city employees
for commuting and regular business activities, generating a range of information
to be used in further developing the fuel cell vehicle for practical use
in everyday life.
The FCX utilizes Honda's own independently developed high-efficiency, high-output
ultra-capacitor energy storage system to achieve powerful, responsive driving
performance. The layout of the powertrain's structural components has also
been optimized to attain a spacious interior with room for four adults in
a compact body that maintains a high level of collision safety performance
no matter what the crash direction. Honda initially plans a limited market
release of approximately thirty vehicles over the first two to three years
in Japan and the U.S. combined.
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| Vehicle delivery ceremony at Los Angeles City Hall |
FCX Specifications
| Number of occupants |
4 |
| Maximum speed |
150km/h |
| Motor |
Max. output |
60kW (82PS) |
| Max. drive torque |
272Nm |
| Type |
AC synchronous electric motor (manufactured by Honda) |
| Fuel cell stack |
Type |
PEFC (polymer electrolyte fuel cell, manufactured by
Ballard) |
| Output |
78kW |
| Fuel |
Type |
Compressed hydrogen gas |
| Storage |
High-pressure hydrogen tank (350 atmospheres) |
| Capacity |
156.6L |
| Dimensions (L x W x H, mm) |
4,165 x 1,760 x 1,645 |
| Energy storage |
Ultra-capacitor (manufactured by Honda) |
| Vehicle range |
355km* |
*When driven
in LA4 mode
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December
3 , 2002 