Let the race away from gas continue! General Motors Co. is now 1 million miles into its fuel cell experiment and company officials say having everyday people drive a test fleet of pollution-free cars has convinced them they are on the right track.

The automaker said it passed the 1 million-miles this week-driven mark in its fuel cell Chevrolet Equinox vehicles, with about 5,000 people rotating in and out of more than 100 cars over the past 25 months. This is extremely good news. Fuel cells are reliable, possess amazing longevity and now proven it without any question—one million miles was a highly desired round number. And it’s now here.

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The hydrogen fuel-cell powered Honda FCX Clarity sedan was declared the 2009 World Green Car. American Honda Motor Co. Inc. announced yesterday at the New York International Auto Show. The FCX Clarity was chosen from an initial entry list of 22 contenders nominated by 59 World Car jurors from 25 countries worldwide.

The Clarity, available on a limited lease-basis, is powered by an electric motor that runs on electricity generated by an on-board fuel cell stack. The vehicle’s only emission is water, and its fuel efficiency is up to three times that of a gasoline-powered auto and two times that of a gas-powered hybrid vehicle, Honda reported.

This award is a good sign for hydrogen fuel-cell technology, which has undergone a lot of criticism lately. One of the main issues people have with hydrogen is that there aren’t enough fueling stations in this country to support it. Another one is that one tank of fuel on these vehicles can only take you approximately 100 miles. This recognition will hopefully give this segment a much-needed boost that will fast track it with many other carmakers.

If cars could high-five, I would surely be giving the Mercedes-Benz Concept BlueZERO a huuuuuge high-five right now. Mercedes-Benz is speeding way ahead of the pack (in an environmentally-friendly and metaphorically way mind you). Looking like something straight out of Speed Racer, this environmentally responsible electromobility on wheels is being presented at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. And its not just one model Mercedes is trumpeting, but three; each equipped with a different drive configuration–it’s all about your own individual sustainable mobility needs.

So which BlueZERO is for you and your electric drive desires?

Video and more photos after the jump.

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11/14/2007 - LOS ANGELES

Honda today unveiled the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show, announcing plans to begin limited retail marketing of the vehicle in summer 2008.

The FCX Clarity is a next-generation, zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle based on the entirely-new Honda V Flow fuel cell platform, and powered by the highly compact, efficient and powerful Honda V Flow fuel cell stack. Featuring tremendous improvements to driving range, power, weight and efficiency - and boasting a low-slung, dynamic and sophisticated appearance, previously unachievable in a fuel cell vehicle - the FCX Clarity marks the significant progress Honda continues to make in advancing the real-world performance and appeal of the hydrogen-powered fuel cell car.

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Wed Oct 24, 7:30 AM ET

TOCHIGI, Japan - Honda (HMC) will deliver fewer than 100 of its new fuel-cell cars next year, when it’s scheduled for introduction in the United States, the automaker’s top executive said Tuesday at the company’s research and development headquarters here.

Though a small number, it is several times as many FCX hydrogen fuel-cell sedans as the automaker currently has on U.S. roads. Only two of those are in the hands of individuals and about 20 more are in fleet service by governments and other institutions.

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Source:
By James R. Healey, USA TODAY