A New Concept Car: The Honda FCX

Honda's FCX runs on a fuel-cell system that is smaller, lighter and more powerful than the current model. The automaker said its new fuel cell was 20% smaller, 30% lighter and 17% more powerful than the present model. It can start in temperatures as low as 22 degrees below zero, an industry best.

In test drives on Honda's banked track in Tochigi, several visiting journalists hit speeds of 100 mph in the hand-built FCX concept sedan fitted with the new fuel-cell system. Honda says the home fuel maker under development will refine and compress 5 kilograms of hydrogen a day from natural gas. That's more than enough for a daily refill of the system's 3.8-kilogram storage tank, which gives the FCX as much as 270 miles of range.

(excerpts from an article by John Odell, L A Times)