The people at Honda are at least candid about their reasons for getting involved in the evolving and expanding ‘green market’. Initially caught off-guard in the North American market, they continue to struggle against the competitive hybrids being put out by close rival Toyota. That’s why they’re so eager to make the next big breakthrough, spending billions to develop everything from plant-based ‘bio-fabrics’ to their new fuel-efficient mini jet.

Their latest release, the Honda FCX Clarity, is being hailed as the pinnacle of hydrogen-powered transportation. Honda representative Todd Mittleman was keen to highlight just how the car differs from previous technology.

“It is,” he explained, “the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle built from the ground up; whilst the previous FCX was an extension of our electrical platform, this is our model for the future.”

Hydrogen power utilises the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to produce water and electricity, which can then power a car motor. This matters for the planet because the reaction produces zero nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide, which currently makes it the cleanest possible engine. Unfortunately, however, the production of hydrogen fuel is less clean (if still cleaner than current fuels), which presents a new challenge to fuel suppliers. After all, there’s no point in creating an emission free vehicle if the production of the fuel is environmentally unsustainable.

But the people at Honda have a solution, of sorts. Hydrogen power generated from solar power, as opposed to fuel generated from natural gas, is according to Todd the new “ideal”, as it means “energy independence, better air quality and the full use of renewable energy”. As you’d expect, Honda have already started development in this area. And with rival programmes from General Motors hot on their heels, they can’t afford to slow down – although, as Todd pointed out, they would “applaud any competitors and hope for their success” because “the more hydrogen vehicles we get on the road the more it contributes to establishing a hydrogen infrastructure”.

Still, Honda clearly see themselves as having an edge over other companies, as they’re already heavily involved in the production of solar panels. In fact, the company has already established one hydrogen production and refuelling station in the US that uses solar energy. At the station, solar cells are used to generate electricity, which is then used to extract hydrogen from a tank of water. The extracted hydrogen can then be pressurised and supplied to the fuel cell vehicle. While this is still at a limited stage the aim is to integrate this technology into home energy units, allowing the easiest access for users and independence from external refuelling stations – admittedly, a distant prospect at this point.

As for the FCX Clarity itself, the initial leases will be to a limited number of retail consumers in Southern California with the first delivery taking place in summer 2008. When questioned, Todd made it clear that Honda don’t intend the fleet to become the throw-away gestures of the celebrity elite but rather emphasised they would be attempting to supply them to a variety of customers, all of whom should have “more than a superficial interest in the environment, integrating the Clarity into their wider efforts to maintain a greener lifestyle”. How encouraging this is when Honda are unable to confirm expansion of the programme beyond the three year leases, and with numbers fairly limited, is debatable.

But despite this caveat the FCX Clarity is still an impressive technological leap. The car utilises Honda’s V Flow stack in combination with an advanced lithium ion battery pack and a single hydrogen storage tank to power the vehicle. Additional energy is also generated through the capture of kinetic energy from vehicle braking and deceleration (known as regenerative braking), which is stored along with surplus energy from the fuel cell in the lithium ion battery pack, and is used to supplement power from the fuel cell. And as well as being efficient, reports from media test drives in the US have also been favourable, citing the smooth and silent drive it provides as a major bonus.

Ultimately, while the FCX Clarity might not be rolling onto the forecourts in the near future, its very development not only reinforces the power of the consumer in altering the direction taken by large corporations but also offers hope that human ingenuity can yet solve the problems ahead. And Hydrogen power may be the key to solving our wider energy needs – the FCX engine is capable of producing enough power to maintain 20 homes. With the potential to do so cleanly and sustainably, it’s reason enough for everyone to get excited.

Laura Beattie is a journalist and lives in Surrey.

To find out more about the Honda FCX Clarity, click here.