Hello, Honda

Monday, June 16, 2008 -- 7:17 p.m.

There's a new hit in Hollywood--and it's not over a movie. Honda's new zero-emission car, FCX Clarity, is headed to Southern California for it's big debut, according to the AP.

The Clarity runs on electricity and hydrogen, and it doesn't emit fumes--only water. According to a press release, its fuel efficiency is three times that of a gas-powered car.

But don't expect to get your hands on one anytime soon--unless you live in Southern Cali and have celeb status--Jamie Lee Curtis was named one of the first five customers.

Honda expects to lease out a "few dozen" cars this year, and 200 within the next 3 years. And, of course, there's the fact that the Clarity requires hydrogen fuel stations--so the only applications they could consider for the car during its initial release were from those living near stations.

Good news, though. If you do manage to get your hands on a car that runs on hydrogen, there's a station in Des Plaines that's publicly available for use.

But that doesn't mean there are plenty of hydrogen fueling stations to go around. According to The National Hydrogen Association, there currently are 70 operational stations in the U.S. and Canada, with another 41 planned. Not exactly one on every corner.

So, as exciting as zero-emission hydrogen cars may be, they simply won't be feasible until hydrogen stations are widespread--no matter how many celebs drive them.