| Honda has developed a scooter powered by its light,
compact fuel cell system, the Honda FC Stack.
The fuel cell powered scooter
developed by Honda |
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Capable of starting at sub-freezing temperatures, the high-efficiency
next-generation Honda FC Stack has been made even lighter and smaller,
and redesigned for use in scooters. Honda has applied ITS expertise gained
in the development of fuel cells for CARS and further miniaturiSed the
system, optimiSing it for application to scooters.
The new vehicle is based on a 125cc scooter of the kind popular with commuters
worldwide. Space has been conserved by placing the electric drive system
on the rear-wheel swing arm, and by placing the Honda FC Stack fuel cell
in the centrE of the vehicle, with auxiliary systems compactly arranged
around it. The result is a scooter comparable in size to an internal combustion
engine vehicle of the same class.
Honda plans to continue refining the new vehicle's design to make it even
more light and compact, so that the fuel cell scooter achieves the same
range and offers storage space comparable to internal combustion engine
vehicles of its class.
Honda has long been involved in the development of fuel cell systems as
next-generation powerplants, since they emit no noxious emissions and
can help reduce the demand for fossil fuels and slow global warming. In
December 2002, Honda delivered FCX fuel cell vehicles to customers in
Japan and the United States --a world's first. In October 2003, Honda
announced the development of the Honda FC Stack, a next-generation fuel
cell capable of starting at subfreezing temperatures. Honda plans to deliver
the Honda FC Stack-equipped FCX in the second half of 2004 to customers
in the United States , and in 2005 to customers in Japan . |
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