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Passenger vehicle programs

Demonstration and validation programs put vehicles and stations in the hands of real-world users. From their experience, CaFCPCalifornia Fuel Cell Partnership members collect data that helps the auto makers, station providers and fuel cell technology companies bring the products closer to market.

For the first time, Mercedes-Benz has applied all development and production standards associated with series production to its soon to be released fuel cell vehicle, the B-Class F-CELL. Approximately 200 vehicles will be delivered to customers in the U.S. and Europe starting in 2010 as part of a special lease program. The B-Class F-CELL drive system technology is based on the latest generation fuel cell system which is some 40 percent smaller than its A-Class F-CELL predecessor, but produces 30 percent more power while consuming 30 percent less fuel. 

GM’s Project Driveway has placed 100 Chevy Fuel Cell vehicles in the hands of end-user customers in the Los Angeles, New York and Washington DC metro areas.  These customers have logged more than 1 million miles.  To learn more, please visit us at www.chevrolet.com/fuelcell.  You can also join the discussion by joining our Facebook group at GM Project Driveway - Hydrogen Fuel Cells.

Honda has been leasing it’s FCX to end users in the Los Angeles area since 2006. In 2008 the new Honda Clarity FCX fuel cell vehicles became available for lease to Southern Californians in the Torrance, Santa Monica or Irvine areas. For more information, visit www.fcx.honda.com.

Hyundai’s fleet vehicles are placed with AC TransitAlameda-Contra Costa Transit, where road supervisors use them in daily service. South Coast AQMD and the State of California also have Hyundai Tucson FCVs and Kia Sportage FCVs.

Nissan, which began development of fuel cell vehicle technology in 1996, has used FCVs in demonstration fleets in Japan and in California through the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCPCalifornia Fuel Cell Partnership). In November 2009, Nissan announced the first commercial FCV lease in North America to Sacramento Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc. The Sacramento Coca-Cola lease is for one year, with an option for two additional years.

Toyota maintains fleet programs with UC Davis in Northern California and UC Irvine in Southern California.

Many Volkswagen Passat fuel cell vehicles supported the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Volkswagen recently had 16 of these fuel cell vehicles as part of its demonstration fleet operating out of the West Sacramento CaFCPCalifornia Fuel Cell Partnership facility. Currently these vehicles have returned to China for continued evaluations and testing.