Honda debuts new hydrogen fuel cell concept

While Toyota's Mirai is set to go on sale in the US next year, Honda has unveiled its own FCV concept, heralding the manufacture of a new sedan to be launched in 2016.

Honda promises that the FCV Concept (Fuel Cell Vehicle) can travel 300 miles (or more than 480 km) on a single tank of hydrogen and be refueled in under five minutes.

The production model (claiming approx. 130 hp) will comfortably seat up to five people and will be launched in Japan and North America first, with Europe to follow.

Honda has already launched a very limited edition fuel cell electric sedan in Japan and in the US: the FCX Clarity.

This year at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the brand is expected to provide details on its plans to expand its public hydrogen refueling station network in the US.

Honda's announcement parallels Toyota's FCV project, which was first unveiled as a concept at the Paris Auto Show and went on to become the Mirai. The sedan will launch next year in Germany, Denmark, Great Britain and the United States.

Emitting only water vapor, fuel cell electric vehicles produce zero carbon emissions.