The first FCX Clarity model, which runs on hydrogen and electricity and produces only water vapour, rolled off the production line in Japan today.

The Japanese carmaker claims the vehicle offers three times better fuel efficiency than a traditional, gasoline-powered car.

It plans to produce 200 FCX Clarity’s, which are initially only available to lease, over the next three years.

The cars have been in development for 19 year and will first go on sale in the US and Japan this autumn.

“The arrival of the first hydrogen fuel cell car is particularly significant during this time of rapidly increasing oil prices," said John Kingston, environment manager for Honda UK.

"Honda is proud to offer an alternative energy solution that could reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and the effect of motoring on climate change."