Honda has unveiled its next generation of fuel cell cars. Building on the experience earned from designing and producing the Honda FCX, the new FCX Clarity is another step towards the mass production of petroleum-free vehicles, even if it still costs hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The launching and testing pad for the new product is, expectedly, California. The state has everything it takes: it is the only area of the country with enough hydrogen refueling stations and is inhabited by many rich ecologists willing to pay a premium lease price to drive a pollution-free vehicle. The lease of the around 200 vehicles heading for California within the next three years will cost about $600 a month.

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis and filmmaker husband Christopher Guest, actress Laura Harris, film producer Ron Yerxa, as well as businessmen Jon Spallino and Jim Salomon have all signed up for a Honda FCX Clarity, AP reports.

Fuel cell cars rely on an oxidizing reaction which produces heat. Most commonly, fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen and yield energy and water. The Honda FCX Clarity can run up to 280 miles on a hydrogen tank and has a top speed of about 100 mph. It boasts a combined fuel economy of 74 miles a gallon gasoline gallon equivalents (GEE).

The problem is that most people still don't understand several issues concerning fuel cell cars which aren't always advertised by companies such as Honda. The hydrogen needed to power fuel cell cars is made through processes which release a lot of greenhouse gases. It's still made using electricity from coal plants. Also, it's impossible to produce anywhere in the near future the massive quantities of hydrogen needed to power a nation of fuel cell cars.

Furthermore, the oil price will go down as the price was driven up by speculation and maneuvers by ruthless traders looking for a quick buck. There is no shortage of oil and there will not be one for decades to come.

However, it's clear that in the meantime the research needs to be done for the new generation of vehicles which will not run on oil derivatives. There are several solutions for powering up cars, but the main issue is, what will planes run on?