Honda starts building hydrogen cars
* FCX Clarity in production * 200 to be built in three years * Leasing will cost about 300 a month...
Commercial production of the world's first vehicle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell has begun.
Honda began work today on the FCX Clarity, a four-seat small family car that runs on hydrogen and electricity, emitting only water vapour.
Honda claims the vehicle offers three times greater fuel-efficiency than a traditional, petrol-powered car and plans to produce 200 examples over the three years.
The car will initially be available for lease, starting in July, to a limited number of customers in southern California and then in Japan later this year.
One of the biggest obstacles standing in the way of wider adoption of fuel-cell vehicles is the lack of hydrogen fuelling stations.
The cost of the car, on a three-year lease, is thought to be $600 (300) a month.
