Honda to Lease FCX Hydrogen Car To Indivduals

DETROIT January 11, 2005; The AP reported that Honda Motor Co. plans to allow an individual U.S. consumer to lease its FCX fuel cell vehicle this year, CEO Takeo Fukui said

"Fuel cell technology is ready for real-world use," Fukui said. Honda also plans to test small hydrogen refueling stations designed for home use in New York this year.

In an interview, Fukui said he wants to apply hybrid technology to as wide a range of Honda vehicles as customers demand. Hybrid versions of Honda's Civic and Accord now are available, besides the Insight.

"When it's not applied widely, it is meaningless," Fukui said through a translator. "It's best to apply it to our mass-market vehicles."

But Fukui added that he sees hybrids only as a bridge to fuel cell vehicles. Hybrids can improve fuel economy by only about 20 percent, he said, while fuel cells could end the use of gasoline altogether.

Fukui said it would be easier for automakers if the United States would "play a bigger role in improving the environment." For example, he said, the Japanese government is trying to adhere to the Kyoto Protocol for reducing emissions, but the United States has not signed on to that treaty.

"We would like to see this approach globally," Fukui said. "It is really important for everybody to follow the same approach."