Japanese car manufacturer Honda recently released a new zero emissions fuel cell vehicle, Honda Clarity. The environment friendly car costs $67,000 and Honda has officially started leasing the car to selected customers in its native country. Reports claim that the car should arrive at a few dealerships in California before the end of the year.

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The Honda Clarity, with its hydrogen fuel cell, will be considered as a direct competitor to the Toyota Mirai FCEV once it hits the North American market. The Clarity has an electric motor capable of outputting up to 174 horsepower and 221 pound-feet worth of toque.

Honda tested the Clarity in Japan's JC08, its equivalent of the US EPA, and claims that the sedan can travel up to 466 miles. Despite this massive mileage, experts believe that the Clarity will receive an EPA rated driving distance of over 300 miles, according to Auto Blog.

Honda is leasing the Clarity to some selected customers in Japan for $500 a month. In comparison, the Toyota Mirai has an EPA range of 312 miles and can be leased for $499 per month.

Honda said that it is limiting the production of Clarity to just 200 units in Japan, at least for the first year. Additionally, only government agencies and businesses are allowed to lease it.

Honda is treating this leasing strategy as a sort of real-world test for the Clarity. The company plans to collect impressions, reactions and suggestions from these clients. Based on the data gathered, Honda will create the sedan tailored for private individuals.

In February, Honda president Takahiro Hachigo said that the company is gearing towards a new phase in fuel cell technology. Hachigo added that by 2030, two-thirds of the company's revenue will come from zero-emission cars, according to Phys.

Fuel cells are slowly becoming to be a major trend in the motoring world. Major car manufacturers are building up their respective teams in order to develop their own fuel cells. Hydrogen fuel cells are clean alternative fuels and are very environment friendly as it only emits water as it byproduct.

Honda is the pioneer of the technology and has been the frontrunner of it. Honda's hydrogen fuel cell became the first fuel cell to be approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board. Honda received the certification back in 2002.