Mayor Jim Hahn announced he will take delivery of the first Honda FCX fuel cell vehicle being leased by the City of Los Angeles in a ceremony including Hiroyuki Yoshino, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., on Monday, Dec. 2, at City Hall. According to the company, the hydrogen-powered Honda FCX is the only fuel cell vehicle certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and U.S. EPA for every day commercial use. Los Angeles will lease a total of five Honda FCX models with the other four vehicles being delivered in 2003. Terms of the lease and re-fueling plans for the vehicles will be released at the Dec. 2 event. “This will be an exciting day for the City of Los Angeles as it takes a leadership role in putting hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles into practical, everyday use,” Mayor Hahn said. “Los Angles City employees will use these fuel cell vehicles on a day-to-day basis, just like any other pool vehicle.” Honda plans to lease about 30 fuel cell cars in California and Japan during the next two-to-three years. The company currently has no plans, however, for mass-market sales of fuel cell vehicles or sales to individuals. Both CARB and the EPA have certified the Honda FCX as a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV). The FCX uses hydrogen supplied to a fuel cell “stack” to generate electricity that powers it’s electric motor. With an output of up to 80 horsepower and 201 foot-pounds of torque, acceleration is similar to a Honda Civic. Water vapor is the only exhaust. The FCX has a range of up to 220 miles and seating for four people, making it practical for a wide range of real-world applications. Honda undertook fuel cell research in 1989 and has been road testing vehicles in the United States since 1999. Honda has also been member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership based in Sacramento, Calif., since 1999. The Dec. 2 event will take place on South lawn of City Hall, beginning at 1:15 p.m.