Many car makers are developing cleaner, more economical

vehicles because of high fuel prices and as consumers

become more concerned with the environment.

Japanese car manufacturer Honda has begun the first

commercial production of a zero-emission, hydrogen fuel-cell

powered vehicle. The four-seater, called FCX Clarity, runs

on hydrogen and electricity, emitting only water vapour.

Honda claims the vehicle offers three times better fuel

efficiency than a traditional, petrol-powered car. Honda

plans to produce 200 of the cars, which are initially available

only to lease, over the next three years.

The Japanese auto manufacturer ceremoniously launched

production of its first hydrogen-powered vehicles on Sunday

in Tochigi, Japan, and announced its first customers.

The four-door sedan, called the FCX Clarity, runs on

electricity from a fuel cell battery that is powered by

]hydrogen fuel. Steam is the car's only byproduct.

The car can get a combined (city and highway driving)

fuel efficiency of about 72 miles per kg of H2 which,

according to Honda's own estimates, is the equivalent

of getting about 74 mpg on a gas-powered car. The car

can be driven for about 280 miles before needing to be

refueled.

The biggest obstacle in mass market appeal of hydrogen-powered

vehicles vs. gas-electric hybrids is where owners could

fill up their cars. While the U.S. Department of Energy

has been a proponent of hydrogen fuel as an alternative

energy for cars, there are currently few hydrogen-fuel filling

stations the U.S.