Nearly a decade ago Honda introduced its first hydrogen-powered vehicle. Though it may have been more environmentally friendly than other car models, it was hardly practical or convenient as it could only move slowly and had enough room for one person.

What a difference a few years makes; the new FCX Clarity can travel up to 99 milers per hour and allows four people to comfortably fit inside. The improvements are due to major improvements to the car's fuel cell; it weighs in at 30 per cent lighter  than the previous model and is about one-third the size of the cell in the original vehicle. The reduction in size allowed the same amount of interior space that you would find in a regular vehicle. The typical clunky appearance of older models was due to the fuel cell's location at the bottom of the car; the new smaller size allows it to be placed between the driver and passenger seat now. The car also contains a lithium-ion battery (the same kind of battery used to power your laptop), though the recall of millions of these batteries over the past few years due to the potential fire hazard has some experts concerned. Honda has dismissed the worries, saying that the car batter won't become as hot as the ones in other devices.

The Clarity made its official debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year and will be available for lease in California later this summer with an approximate lease costs of $600 per month. If gas prices keep rising at an alarming rate, this may just be the bargain of the year.

» MSNBC Environment