8 October 2002: Los Angeles city authorities are to be the first US retail customer for a fuel cell car, with five production models of Honda’s FCX being delivered before the end of this year.

The deal under which the city will lease the cars is part of Honda’s fuel-cell development programme. The FCX uses hydrogen supplied to a fuel cell ‘stack’ to generate electricity and power and electric motor, delivering 80 horsepower and 201 foot-pounds of torque for acceleration similar to a Civic.

The FCX has a range of up to 220 miles and seating for four people and city employees will use the vehicles as regular pool cars and for commuting. LA and Honda are finalising hydrogen refueling plans.

City employees are beginning a familiarisation program with prototypes of the car.

LA mayor Jim Hahn says hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles hold great promise for future clean air vehicles.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the US EPA recently certified the FCX as the world's first fuel cell vehicle for public road use, classifying it as a zero emission vehicle (ZEV).

Honda plans to lease about 30 fuel cell cars in California and Japan during the next two to three years but does not have immediate plans for mass-market sales of fuel cell vehicles or sales to individuals.

The move is the latest in a world-wide push for the development of fuel-cell oowered vehicles: General Motors, for instance, is starting drive appraisals for journalists of its Hy-Wire prototype (below) seen at the recent Paris Motor Show.