Honda Announces the Plan to Build Solar Hydrogen Station on Grounds of Saitama Prefect. Office, FCX Clarity Used in Electric Vehicle Testing Program

PRESS RELEASE

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced its plan to build a Solar Hydrogen Station on the grounds of the Saitama Prefectural Office and introduce an electric power outlet equipped FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle within the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012. The initiative is part of the Electric Vehicle Testing Program for Honda's next-generation personal mobility products, in which Honda and Saitama Prefecture are currently collaborating. In a further initiative, Honda will equip the FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle with an outlet to function as a 10kW or higher power source, the approximate equivalent of the power required by 2 households*. Since the FCX Clarity uses a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to produce power with zero CO2 emissions, with its new outlet the vehicle will be able to serve as a zero-emission mobile electric generator.

In March 2009, Honda and Saitama Prefecture concluded an agreement to collaborate on environmental issues. Based on this agreement, since December 2010, Honda has been implementing an Electric Vehicle Testing Program in Saitama that features advanced electromotive technology and communications and telematics to help realize a low-carbon mobility society in the future.

Within this program, the Saitama Prefectural Office Solar Hydrogen Station will represent the hydrogen-powered society of the future, while the specially equipped FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle will refuel at the solar powered station and serve as both a vehicle and a high-capacity electric generator. This setup will allow Honda to do extensive testing on the technological capabilities and operational requirements of the Solar Hydrogen Station in a real-world urban environment.

To help replace fossil fuels, reduce emissions and combat climate change, Honda has been a leader in the ongoing development of fuel cells, which it views as the ultimate clean power source. Representing the hydrogen-powered society of the future and producing zero CO2 emissions during operation, the FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle became available for lease in the US in July 2008 and in Japan in November of the same year. Also believing it crucial to eliminate CO2 emissions during the production, storage and supply of hydrogen fuel, in January 2010 at the Los Angeles Center of Honda R&D Americas, Inc., Honda began experimental operation of a compact, quiet and low-cost next-generation Solar Hydrogen Station for household use.

* Based on the calculation that an average household uses approximately 5kW of electricity