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# Santa Monica producer first to receive new hydrogen vehicle
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-producer-first-to-receive-new-hydrogen-vehicle/
- Published: 2008-06-23T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T19:58:19.000Z
- Author: Melody Hanatani
- Tags: Community, Santa Monica, #archive-import

“My wife \[Annette Ballester\] and I have been very interested in reducing our carbon footprint,”Yerxa, who produced the 2006 hit “Little Miss Sunshine,” said. “It seemed like even a better potential step to get off nonrenewable energy altogether.”

The Santa Monica dealership has been inundated with calls since Honda first announced the cars, which wasn’t surprising given the location, General Manager Sean Ramezani said.

“The fact that Santa Monica is being represented as one of the first three areas participating in this is only befitting of the community,” Ramezani said. “The community is always at the forefront of awareness as far as environmental efforts.”

The Clarity operates on an electric motor that runs on electricity generated in the fuel cell, its emission being water. The car is three times more fuel efficient than a modern gasoline-powered vehicle, according to American Honda Motor Co.

“This is totally a revolutionary thing,” Ramezani said.

Santa Monicans and other Westside residents who are ultimately selected to lease the car will be able to refuel their Clarities at a new Shell refueling station that will open in West L.A. on June 26\. The station will have one dispenser that can accommodate about five to seven cars during a 24-hour period.

The station is one of a handful of Shell locations across the country that have hydrogen refueling, including several in New York and Washington D.C. Several stations are in development in the L.A. area, according to Tim O’Leary, the communications manager for Shell Hydrogen.

“The station will provide fuel to fuel cell vehicles introduced by car manufacturers,” O’Leary said.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/062308-08_02.jpg)

Co. (Photo: Photo courtesy American Honda Motor)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 23, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/062308.pdf?ref=smdp.com)