TORRANCE, California, Oct. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Honda is joining with organizations across America in celebrating National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day (www.hydrogenfuelcellday.org) to raise awareness of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies that can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while increasing the nation’s energy security.

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Honda will introduce its new 5-passenger, hydrogen-powered Clarity Fuel Cell sedan by the end of the year, beginning with retail leasing to customers in select California markets. The Clarity Fuel Cell has a refueling time of approximately three to five minutes.

The U.S. Senate provided official recognition of October 8 as National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day last year, in recognition of the atomic weight of hydrogen (1.008), raising awareness of the role fuel cell vehicles can play in the future of energy and mobility in America.

“Honda believes that hydrogen can play a critical role in addressing global climate change and accelerating progress toward a more sustainable, ultra low-carbon mobility future,” said Steve Center, vice president of the Environmental Business Development Office at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “We are excited to deliver the all-new zero-emissions Clarity Fuel Cell, a spacious 5-passenger fuel cell sedan with the range and refueling time of a conventional car. The Clarity can meet customer needs for performance, safety and advanced telematics, while addressing society’s environmental and energy concerns.”

Sales and marketing will begin through certified fuel cell vehicle dealers located in the Los Angeles and Orange County regions, as well as, for the first time, the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento areas, where the network of hydrogen stations has started in earnest.

Potential customers interested in the Clarity Fuel Cell are encouraged to visit http://automobiles.honda.com/clarity, where they can receive more information and sign up for the opportunity to become a Clarity Fuel Cell customer.

About the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell
Technological innovations to the Clarity Fuel Cell have created a fuel cell stack that is 33 percent more compact than its predecessor with a 60 percent increase in power density compared to the outgoing Honda FCX Clarity. The more compact fuel cell and integrated powertrain, comparable in size to a V-6 engine, now fits entirely under the hood of the car, allowing for a more spacious cabin with seating for five passengers. The new Honda Clarity Fuel Cell will feature a driving range rating anticipated to exceed 300 miles, with a refueling time of approximately three to five minutes using 70 kpa refueling stations.

As the next progression in Honda’s dynamic FCV styling, the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell features a low, wide aerodynamic body with clean character lines. The interior achieves a refined and harmonious experience using rich materials and intuitive, streamlined controls. Additional features include the Honda Sensing™ suite of safety and driver assistive technologies, Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™, LED exterior lighting and 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The Clarity Fuel Cell will be available in Crystal Black Pearl, White Orchid Pearl and signature Bordeaux Red Metallic exterior paint schemes.

Honda Fuel Cell Vehicle Leadership
Honda has led the industry for nearly two decades in the development and deployment of fuel cell vehicle technology through extensive real-world testing and customer deployments, including the first government fleet customers and first-ever retail consumer leasing program. Since the introduction of its first-generation fuel cell vehicle, the FCX, in 2002, Honda has made significant technological advancements in fuel cell vehicle operation in both hot and sub-freezing weather while meeting customer expectations and safety regulations.

Honda’s second-generation fuel cell vehicle, the FCX Clarity, launched in July 2008 and was quickly heralded as a technological breakthrough in the areas of design, packaging and efficiency. As the world’s first dedicated platform fuel cell vehicle, the FCX Clarity was powered by the Honda V-flow fuel cell stack positioned in the center tunnel of the vehicle, with the electric motor located down low in the front of the vehicle, providing performance on par with a gasoline powered sedan, including 240 miles of driving range.

Honda has deployed fuel cell vehicles in the U.S., Germany and Japan, including the FCX Clarity, which was named the 2009 World Green Car. Honda has delivered these vehicles to individual retail consumers in the U.S. and collected valuable feedback concerning real-world use of both fuel cell vehicles and public hydrogen refueling stations.

Honda Fuel Cell Vehicle Firsts

Honda fuel cell technology firsts include:

• The first EPA- and CARB-certified fuel cell vehicle (July 2002)
• The world’s first production fuel cell vehicle, introduced to the U.S. and Japan (December 2002)
• The first fuel cell vehicle to start and operate in sub-freezing temperatures (2003)
• The first fuel cell vehicle leased to an individual customer (July 2005)
• The first manufacturer to build and produce a dedicated fuel cell vehicle (FCX Clarity) on a production line specifically made for fuel cell vehicles (2008)
• The first manufacturer to create a fuel cell vehicle dealer network (2008)

Honda Commitment to the Environment
Based on its vision of “Blue Skies for our Children,” Honda is working to advance technologies that address society’s environmental and energy concerns. Honda is targeting a 50 percent reduction in its total company CO₂ emissions on a global basis by 2050, compared to 2000 levels.  Starting in 2016, Honda will begin introduction of a new generation of the Honda Clarity series of vehicles, with the hydrogen-powered Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle, followed by a new Clarity Electric and Clarity Plug-In Hybrid in 2017, as the company strives to realize significant growth in sales of electrified vehicles.