Honda has announced it is set to begin production of its next generation FCX hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle (FCV) within the next four years.

The car manufacturer unveiled its large-scale plans for the FCX, which was first shown four months ago, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit over the weekend.

The sedan will be produced in Japan, and will be powered by a unique, low-floor V flow fuel cell platform.

The announcement signals the advancement of fuel cell technology in vehicles at a time when many manufacturers are concentrating their efforts on diesel-electric, hybrid technology.

The makers claim the vehicle is capable of producing 100kW of power and that a recently developed hydrogen absorption material in the tank doubles the car's capacity to 5kg of hydrogen at 5,000 PSI, extending the vehicle's cruising range to 350 miles.

BMW and Ford are also exhibiting fuel cell-powered vehicles at the show.


Ÿ Adfero Ltd