Honda Starts Producing Hydrogen-Powered Cars

As fuel prices rise and consumers grow more concerned about the environment, automakers are looking to produce greener, more economical vehicles.

Honda’s new FCX Clarity runs on hydrogen and electricity, and doesn’t emit the gases believed to cause global warming. The Clarity is also three times more fuel-efficient than a gas-powered car, and twice as efficient as a gas-electric hybrid.

When the car rolled off the production line, John Mendel, executive vice president at America Honda Motor Co., called the occasion “an especially significant day for American Honda as we plant firm footsteps toward the mainstreaming of fuel cell cars.”

Honda released an earlier fuel cell vehicle, the FCX, in 2005. Since then, the company made a breakthrough in the design of the motor, and was able to boost efficiency, lighten the body and create more interior room as a result.

Despite the new means of powering vehicles, some manufacturers haven’t written off traditionally-powered vehicles just yet. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t looking to the future.

“In the next few years, we are not going to do without petrol and diesel motors, but the future belongs to the electric car,” said Martin Winterkorn, chairman of Volkswagen, the biggest car maker in Europe.