Honda will present a hydrogen fuel cell concept at the 2013 Los Angeles Motor Show which expresses a potential styling direction for Honda’s next-generation fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) launching in the U.S and Japan in 2015 and later in other countries.

The future of personal mobility

The Japanese brand released a teaser sketch this week saying “the Honda FCEV Concept demonstrates their vision for the future of personal mobility and commitment to developing advanced alternative fuel vehicles.” Also that “their long-term experience with fuel-cell technologies will help them pave a way towards a zero-emissions future.”

Apart from this stylized teaser image, no other details have been released on the concept. The image shows a futuristic design with an angular grille and a raffish windscreen. FCEV Concept is meant as a preview of futuristic and aerodynamic designs bound for its next fuel-cell electric car.

In 2002, Honda was the first automaker to begin a retail initiative with the leasing of its fuel-cell electric vehicles to fleet customers. The company also claims to have sold the first fuel cell vehicle to a retail customer in 2005, and says that around 24 customers currently lease its FCX Clarity model.

However, limited infrastructure is one of the biggest challenges fuel cell vehicles will face. There currently are only a handful of fueling stations for hydrogen vehicles – the majority of these are in California, where ‘fast-fill’ hydrogen filling stations are available. Automakers will need to co-operate for there to be any chance at the technology finding mass market success.

Toyota and Hyundai are also working to bring out fuel cell vehicles. Just last week, Toyota revealed its FCV fuel cell vehicle which is scheduled to debut at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show

Honda also revealed today that they will announce more details on the vehicle and further enhancements for the 2014 Civic during the Los Angeles Auto Show happening next week.