By Roddy Scheer
Fuel cell cars may soon be a reality nationwide.
Fuel cell cars may soon be a reality nationwide.
Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that fuel cell cars are finally available for mainstream drivers in the U.S.?    
       -- Jack Mixson, Wilmington, DE
    For years, green car enthusiasts have been heralding the dawn of a new era of pollution-free driving powered by fuel cells, which combine readily available hydrogen with oxygen to fire up the engine. NASA created the first commercial-grade fuel cells in the 1960s to power satellites and space capsules.Automakers have been talking up their potential for use in cars and trucks ever since.
     But the idea has never gotten beyond the prototype stage, mostly because of the lack of any refueling infrastructure. After all, drivers are used to being able to refill their tanks on almost every corner, while the new generation of electric and plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles can be recharged from any electrical outlet.
     But fuel cell vehicles may still represent the holy grail of auto travel because they combine the environmental benefits of electric vehicles (no reliance on fossil fuels and no pollution) with the driving range (about 300 miles between refueling) of conventional cars.
     While GM, Hyundai and Daimler are heavily invested in fuel cell vehicle production, Toyota and Honda are already offering fuel cell vehicles for sale or lease to drivers in California, given the Golden State’s head start in creating a hydrogen refueling network. According to the California Fuel Cell Partnership, 27 hydrogen refueling stations are already up and running around metro Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, with 33 more coming online soon.
     Toyota’s fuel cell vehicle, the Mirai, seats four and offers all the trimmings of any new car -- touch-screen entertainment, dual climate control, steering wheel mounted controls, radar to prevent accidents and help with parking, and a 312-mile range per fill-up. The manufacturer's suggested retail price on the Mirai is $57,500, but Toyota is currently offering $7,500 back. Another option is a 36-month lease on the Mirai for $349 per month plus $2,499 upfront.
     Meanwhile, Honda’s new fuel cell vehicle, the Clarity, is similarly appointed but offers a roomier interior (seating for five) and a longer range (366 miles per fill-up). Californians can lease the Clarity (it’s not for sale in the U.S.) for $369 per month for 36 months plus $2,868 due at signing, with Honda covering the first $15,000 worth of hydrogen fuel.
     Drivers behind the wheel of the Mirai or Clarity qualify for a one-time $5,000 tax rebate from California for driving a green car, not to mention access to high occupancy vehicle, or HOV, lanes statewide even with just a single occupant.
      Of course, fuel cell drivers won’t want to leave California just yet. Outside of the Golden State, there are exactly three publicly accessible hydrogen refueling stations (Massachusetts, Connecticut and South Carolina each have one). But later this year Toyota, in partnership with Air Liquide, a multinational company based in France, will start to rollout a new network of hydrogen refueling stations around the Northeastern U.S. so drivers can enjoy the benefits of driving the latest, greatest and greenest technology ever to grace the American road.
     Contacts:

     California Fuel Cell Partnership Stations Map

     Honda Clarity

     Toyota Mirai

     Related:

     Tech firms explore new ways to travel

     Storage a key to renewable energy

     This column was reprinted with permission. EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of the nonprofit Earth Action Network. To donate, visit www.earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.

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