THE HONDA FCX is a zero-emissions electric vehicle that is powered by fuel-cell technology. It's a production vehicle that's now in limited use, but fuel-cell cars in general aren't expected to be a viable alternative to current vehicles for years to come.

To see how this pioneer vehicle performs, we recently checked out the FCX at our test center on a four-day loan from American Honda. Consumer Reports does not, as a matter of policy, conduct formal tests of products loaned to us by manufacturers. In this case, though, since the product is not available to the public and may never be, we drove the Honda to form an initial impression of this important technology. Unfortunately, the FCX has only a 180-mile cruising range. Since the closest hydrogen refueling station was 130 miles away in Albany, N.Y., we had to limit our drives to short trips.


What is a fuel-cell car?

The small FCX has seating for four people and its tall roofline provides adequate headroom in both the front and rear.

A fuel-cell car is basically an electric vehicle that generates its power from a hydrogen fuel cell rather than a battery pack. In simple terms, hydrogen is fed into the fuel cell, where it reacts with oxygen to produce electricity and water. Fuel-cell cars are considered to be one of the most promising future alternatives to today's gasoline-powered engines, and virtually every automaker is working on this technology. But there are major obstacles to overcome, including the high costs; lack of a refueling infrastructure; and questions about how to produce, transport, and store large quantities of hydrogen.

The FCX is a tall, four-passenger, two-door hatchback that houses its fuel cells and two hydrogen tanks in its floor. The tanks hold gaseous hydrogen at a high pressure of 5,000 psi. A capacitor is used to store electrical energy and provide a power boost when needed for more responsive performance. A 107-hp electric motor is coupled with a continuously variable transmission, which drives the front wheels.


Driving impressions

The capacitor storage gauge on the left shows when the car is getting a power boost from stored energy. The “distance to empty” gauge on the right only goes up to 120 miles, although the car is capable of a 180-mile cruising range.

Despite its high-tech makeup, the FCX felt fairly normal to drive. It has sufficient power and is very quiet. An electric whine is audible on takeoff but not objectionable. Throttle response is prompt, which is impressive considering the vehicle's hefty 3,700-pound weight. The ride is comfortable enough. Handling is OK but not particularly nimble, and the electric steering is vague. Feedback through the brake pedal feels a bit unusual as a result of the car's regenerative braking system, which, as in hybrid vehicles, recovers braking energy to help replenish stored electric power.

The FCX is roomy enough for four passengers, although cargo space is miniscule. Interior room is comparable to the Civic Coupe, with the tall profile ensuring enough room in the back even for adults. With its tall stance, driving is similar to that of a small SUV, such as the Honda CR-V. Access to the front seats is easy. Fit and finish is very good and comparable to other Honda models.

The instruments include a conventional speedometer, a “fuel” gauge that displays a “miles-to-empty” LED bar, and a capacitor storage gauge, which indicates when the car is being assisted by stored energy.

So is the FCX ready for prime time? Our initial impression is that it is a comfortable, reasonably refined small car that would be just right for many drivers. However, Honda didn't want to tell us how much the FCX costs to build, which is likely more than a million dollars. Getting the price down to a reasonable level and making hydrogen readily available will be the challenges to making fuel-cell cars a viable alternative.