Honda FCX Clarity

The 4-door, 4-passenger Honda FCX Clarity is twice as efficient as a hybrid-electric vehicle and three times more efficient than a conventional gasoline vehicle. The driving range is approximately 270 miles, and it has a top speed of 100 mph. It'll do 0-60 mph in 9.2 seconds and yield a gasoline mileage equivalent of 68 mpg.

Hydrogen from an onboard fuel tank and oxygen from the air are combined in a hydrogen fuel cell to make electricity for the vehicle. The electricity then powers the electric motor, which in turn drives the front wheels. Water vapor and heat are the only byproducts.

FCX Clarity's new high-output, high-efficiency electric motor is compact and lightweight. It's powerful (134-hp equivalent) and quiet, and delivers a smooth and efficient ride.

Honda's Vertical Flow fuel cell stack is nothing short of revolutionary. The advanced layout is more efficient than ever, and it allows cold-weather startups, even at minus 30 degrees Celsius.

Auxiliary regenerated energy, captured during deceleration and braking, is stored in a new, high-efficiency lithium-ion battery pack, providing a supplemental power source from a lightweight, compact package that increases the vehicle’s efficiency and range.

A limited number of these cars will be available in southern California beginning in the summer of 2008. They will be leased for three years at $600 per month, but maintenance and collision insurance are included.

Perhaps even more exciting than this announcement is the news that Honda will be integrating their hydrogen cars with a Home Energy Station, which will power the home and produce fuel for the car.