Honda Opens First Los Angeles-Area Hydrogen Fuel Station; Fuel Station of the Future Uses Solar Power

    TORRANCE, Calif., July 10 The first hydrogen production
and fueling station in the Los Angeles area has started operation at Honda's
research and development center in Torrance, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.,
announced today.

    The state-of-the-art station is part of Honda's ongoing research into
renewable energy.  It will support the Company's fuel cell vehicle development
program and will be used for hydrogen production, storage and fueling.

    The station uses solar power to extract hydrogen from water, and also has
back-up electrical power to increase the hydrogen production capacity.
Available solar power can produce enough hydrogen to drive a single fuel cell
vehicle for a year.

    "Fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen fuel have tremendous potential to
contribute to the goals of sustainable transportation systems and the use of
renewable energy," said Ben Knight, Honda R&D Americas, Inc. vice president.
   
"The development of a hydrogen fuel infrastructure is as important as the
development of the vehicles themselves," Knight said.  "This is the first
hydrogen station established by an auto maker to use solar energy to extract
hydrogen from water and it will help verify more efficient hydrogen production
methods as well as help us solve the challenges involved with hydrogen
production and fueling stations for the future."
    
Honda's hydrogen station is a unique design, with features designed to
provide safe, efficient, and convenient refueling for fuel cell vehicles.
   
Safety was a top priority in the development of the station.  Honda
engineers worked closely with the City of Torrance representatives during
planning and construction.  The station was built to standards for hydrogen
systems developed by the National Fire Protection Agency.  Additionally, an
infrared camera monitors operations at all times and the system is designed to
immediately shut down in the event of an earthquake.
    
The station's operation starts with the solar cells using the sun's energy
to produce electricity.  The electricity then is used to extract hydrogen from
water.  A compressor pressurizes the extracted hydrogen and it is stored in
tanks at the station.  The system that manages the solar-generated electricity
with maximum efficiency was developed by Honda engineers, some with previous
experience in Honda's "Dream" solar car development program.
    
Hydrogen-powered Honda fuel cell vehicles have been operational since 1999
and have been participating in the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP)
program near Sacramento since November 2000.  From the start-up of CaFCP's
program through June of this year, Honda's fuel cell vehicles have logged more
than 3,500 miles.  The Honda FCX V3 running on hydrogen was used as the pace
vehicle for this year's Los Angeles Marathon.