Honda Showcases Its Zero Emission FCX Fuel Cell Vehicle at California Fuel Cell Partnership's 'Cruisin' Southern Cal' Road Rally

TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 16 -- Honda's industry-leading current generation FCX fuel cell vehicles will be key participants in a showcase rally that will drive some of the cleanest and technologically advanced vehicles in the world through some of the smoggiest regions in the USA.

The smoggy environs from Los Angeles to San Diego that will be traversed in the California Fuel Cell Partnership's "Cruisin' Southern Cal" Road Rally are familiar turf for the Honda fuel cell vehicle team. Honda leads all other automakers in real-world experience with fuel cell vehicles. Honda has delivered five fuel cell vehicles to the City of Los Angeles beginning in 2002 and two vehicles to the City of San Francisco earlier this year; and two additional vehicles were leased to the South Coast Air Quality Management District in June. Honda also operates three more FCX vehicles full time as part of its fleet demonstration program. All 12 vehicles are in use every day as regular fleet vehicles.

Honda's fuel cell vehicle program, like other programs in the technology-driven company, has recorded several notable technical achievements in recent years:

   *  The 2005 second-generation FCX was certified by the California Air
      Resources Board (CARB) as a zero emission vehicle, and by the national
      EPA as meeting Tier-2 Bin 1 standards, the lowest possible emissions
      rating;

   *  The second-generation Honda FCX with Honda's originally developed fuel
      cell stack (Honda FC Stack) was publicly demonstrated in below
      freezing weather conditions in 2004;

   *  The second-generation FC stack, less costly and complex than the
      previous generation, demonstrates improvements in fuel economy, range
      and performance;

   *  In 2003, Honda began experiments with its hydrogen Home Energy System
      (HES) and improved solar cell technology for the production of
      hydrogen;

   *  The 2003 model FCX was the first and only hydrogen-powered fuel cell
      vehicle to receive both EPA and CARB certification for commercial use
      in 2002;

   *  Honda's FCX was the first fuel cell vehicle delivered for commercial
      use when a unit was leased to the City of Los Angeles in 2002;

   *  Honda opened the first solar-powered hydrogen production and fueling
      station built and operated by an auto company in 2001 at Honda R&D
      Americas headquarters in Torrance, California;

   *  In addition to 12 vehicles in regular commercial use in Northern and
      Southern California, Honda FCX vehicles have participated in the
      Michelin Challenge Bibendum in 2003 and two previous California Fuel
      Cell Partnership road rallies;

"Honda's work on hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles has progressed rapidly and we look forward to the ultimate commercial success of these zero-emission vehicles," said Ben Knight, vice president of Honda R&D Americas. "While we are still demonstrating the capability of this new mode of transportation, we are proud of Honda's real world record of accomplishment -- having its fuel cell vehicles in commercial use for almost two years."

Honda expects to add a customer in the northeastern part of the country later this year, further expanding the customer base while providing a practical demonstration of the breakthrough cold-weather capabilities of the Honda FC stack. Honda plans to lease about 30 fuel cell cars in California and Japan during the next two to three years.

With 107 horsepower and 201 foot-pounds of torque, the second-generation 2005 FCX offers seating for four and has an EPA estimated range of 190 miles, making it practical for a wide range of real-world applications. Power is supplied by a fuel cell that takes in gaseous hydrogen from a 5000 psi tank and produces electricity to drive the vehicle's electric motor. Electric energy is stored in a Honda manufactured ultra-capacitor. The only byproducts are water vapor and heat.

Honda launched its fuel cell research program in 1989 and began road testing fuel cell vehicles in the United States a decade later. Honda has been a member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership since 1999.

Honda Clean Air Milestones

In addition to the two generations of FCX vehicles, other Honda clean air innovations include:

   *  Fleet emission reductions years ahead of requirements (Jan. 2004) --
      More than 60 percent of Honda's 2004 model year Honda and Acura
      vehicles met the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Tier 2-Bin 5
      emissions requirements ahead of their phase-in schedule, compared with
      an industry average of 35 percent;

   *  Accord Hybrid (Fall 2004) -- Honda introduces both hybrid technology
      and cylinder deactivation in a 2005 Honda Accord model.  The
      introduction increases the number of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles
      in the Honda line to three.  Cylinder deactivation also is available
      in the 2005 Odyssey minivan;

   *  Civic GX and Insight (Feb. 2004) -- American Council for an Energy
      Efficient Economy named these models as the two "greenest" vehicles of
      the 2004 model year;

   *  Civic Hybrid AT-PZEV (2003) -- The first-ever hybrid vehicle certified
      as an advanced technology partial zero emission vehicle in California
      (AT-PZEV);

   *  Accord PZEV (2003) -- Honda introduced one of the first partial zero
      emission, meeting California's most stringent emissions standards for
      a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine;

   *  Pilot SUV ULEV (2002) -- The all-new vehicle debuted as an ultra low
      emission vehicle (ULEV) constructed with 90 percent recyclable
      components;

   *  Civic GX AT-PZEV (2001) -- The natural gas-powered vehicle became the
      first car ever certified as an advanced technology partial zero
      emission vehicle by the California Air Resources Board (AT-PZEV);

   *  Civic ULEV (September 2000) -- The first mass-market vehicle sold
      nationwide as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV);

   *  Accord SULEV (November 1999) -- The first vehicle to gain Super-Ultra
      Low Emission Vehicle certification in California;

   *  Insight (December 1999) -- The first gasoline-electric hybrid car sold
      in the United States.  Achieved highest EPA fuel economy rating ever
      and CARB SULEV status (CVT), ULEV (MT);

   *  Civic GX (April 1998) -- The natural gas-powered Civic is the cleanest
      internal combustion engine vehicle ever tested by the EPA;

   *  EV Plus (May 1997) -- The first application of advanced nickel-metal
      hydride batteries in an electric vehicle;

   *  Accord ULEV (September 1997) -- The first gasoline-powered vehicle to
      gain Ultra Low Emission Vehicle certification in California;

   *  Civic (September 1995) -- The first gasoline-powered vehicle to gain
      Low Emission Vehicle certification in California; and

   *  Civic CVCC (1975) -- The world's first vehicle to comply with the 1970
      Clean Air Act using lean-burn technology that produced fewer emissions
      based on the enhanced performance of the engine (without a catalytic
      converter).

More information on the California Fuel Cell Partnership is available at www.cafcp.org.