The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, Washington, DC) announced the certification for fuel economy and emissions of the 2003 Honda FCX as the first US certified hydrogen fuel cell zero-emission vehicle. The announcement comes shortly after a presidential commitment to further the progress of hydrogen fuel cells as a way to make the air significantly cleaner, and our country less dependent on foreign sources of energy.
The president's commitment includes a $1.2 billion hydrogen fuel initiative to develop the technology for commercially viable hydrogen-powered fuel cells to power cars, trucks, homes and businesses with no pollution or greenhouse gases. The hydrogen fuel initiative will include $720 million in new funding over the next five years to develop the technologies and infrastructure to produce, store and distribute hydrogen for use in fuel cell vehicles and electricity generation.
"In his State of the Union address, the president called on Congress to, 'protect our environment in ways that generations before us could not have imagined,' said EPA Administrator Christie Whitman. "Among the measures he called for are several far-reaching proposals to make America's air cleaner and healthier. Included is a strong commitment to the progress of hydrogen fuel cells. I am pleased that the EPA is ready and able to help in this important effort."
