The Honda FCX and Toyota FCHV, which began leasing on December 2, 2002, became the world's first government-certified commercial hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

[1][2][3] As of March 2007, there are more than twenty Honda FCX vehicles in the hands of customers, including the state of New York, cities of Las Vegas, Chula Vista, San Francisco and the South Coast Air Quality Management District in three different American states.

[4] Limited marketing of a latest fuel cell vehicle named FCX Clarity, based on the 2007 concept model, began on June 19, 2008 in Japan and the United States.

The fuel cell was a PEFC (proton exchange membrane) manufactured by Ballard Power Systems.

FCX was, according to Honda, the only fuel cell vehicle fully certified to meet the applicable federal government crash safety standards at the time.

On 29 June 2005 Honda leased an FCX to its first non-commercial customer; the Spallino family of Southern California.

The updated four-door sedan version looks sleeker and more futuristic, and has a high focus on comfort and interior space.

To support the hydrogen fuel-cell technology, Honda also introduced the Home Energy Station (HES).

This home solution can convert natural gas to electricity, heat and hydrogen to refuel fuel-cell vehicles.

According to Honda, this solution is highly efficient and reduces running costs of electricity, gas and vehicle fuel by up to 50%.

On 15 November 2007 at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, Honda unveiled the FCX Clarity, the first production model, and announced that the car would be available for lease beginning in the summer 2008.