Honda says its FCX Clarity is the first fuel-cell powered vehicle to be offered to the general public in the United States.

Two hundred examples of the FCX have been produced, and offered through three California Honda dealerships. The vehicle is available only via a 36-month lease for $600 per month, and only in the Torrance, Santa Monica and Irvine, California areas – chosen for their proximity to hydrogen refueling stations. Reviewers say the Clarity offers a driving experience similar to that of the Honda Accord, with a beautiful design made possible only by its unique fuel-cell drivetrain.

Drivers who lease one of the first 200 vehicles must also accept range limitations – Honda limits where the vehicle can be driven because of the limited availability of hydrogen fuel and qualified dealer support. Lessees will not have the option to purchase the vehicle after the lease term expires.

Honda says the FCX Clarity could be put into mass-production within a few years if a hydrogen infrastructure were built to make it practical. Reviewers generally say it already feels like a production car, with a driving experience close to that of the midsize Accord.

The FCX uses an electric motor, powered by the energy produced by a hydrogen fuel-cell stack. The fuel cell combines hydrogen, which is stored in a fuel tank much like gasoline, with oxygen from ambient air to generate electricity. This reaction produces only water vapor, making the Clarity a zero-emissions vehicle. It also functions like a hybrid vehicle, capturing energy through regenerative brakes, which is then stored in a lithium-ion battery pack for use by the motor.

The car’s design is utterly unique. The fuel cell stack, lithium-ion battery and electric motor are distributed through the center of the chassis, with no need for an engine in front or a transmission down the center of the car. This allows for an expansive passenger cabin and a view of the road not possible in more conventional cars. Many reviewers find the look beautiful.

In fact, reviewers find little to criticize in the Clarity. Those who have something negative to say generally express concerns about hydrogen as a fuel source since it is often still produced from fossil fuels, and is rare and expensive. Few have anything negative to say about Honda’s fuel cell car itself.