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Honda to Lease Hydrogen-Powered Car Fall 2002 (Dominionization),

Honda to Lease Hydrogen-Powered Car Fall 2002

.c The Associated Press

TORRANCE, Calif. (AP) - Honda will begin leasing a four-passenger, hydrogen-powered car in California and Japan this fall, making it available to government and institutional users.

The FCX will likely become the first zero-emissions car available in California that is not powered by batteries that need recharging. There are no immediate plans to mass-market it to consumers.

The FCX - short for ``fuel cell experimental'' - is modeled on the EV Plus, a battery-powered car that the American Honda Motor Co. Inc. began leasing to consumers in 1997.

It carries 41 gallons of hydrogen, has a range of 220 miles and a top speed of 96 mph.

Honda spokesman Art Garner said Wednesday the car needs federal safety certification, which the company expects to obtain in time to begin leasing 30 of the cars by the end of the year.

It has already been certified as zero emissions, meaning it meets strict anti-pollution requirements that take effect next year in California.

In California, the car will likely be leased only in the Southern California and Sacramento areas, where a limited number of hydrogen refueling stations exist. Likewise in Japan, the cars will be available only in Tokyo.

07/25/02 00:44 EDT

Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Fri Jul 26