Honda Motor Co gets it. Arguably one of the most economical car makers there is, Honda Motor gets it. Honda knows that America is fat and needs equally large sport utility vehicles and minivans to ride in. Even so, Honda will scale back production on its Odyssey minivans and Pilot SUVs in the U.S. It’s not because America suddenly went on a diet, it’s because even the wealthy are feeling the pinch of high gasoline prices.

The automaker will cut production of the two units over the next three months by 10,000 units. to make up for the loss, Honda will roll out even more of its Civic subcompacts. My son drives one of these – 35-40mpg. Honda gets it.

Honda also has  an SUV-sized vehicle that goes 1,300 miles between fill-ups. Honda gets it.

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Mazda Motor Corp has a hydrogen-powered minivan coming to Japan for lease beginning next March.  The minivan will have hydrogen-combustion and an electric motor. Mazda is the Japanese affiliate of Ford Motor Co. The company received permission from Japan’s transport ministry to test the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid. The Premacy is known as the Mazda5 overseas.

The minivan has a generator-powered electric motor and a rotary engine. (And, the Mazda goes ummm…). Emissions are water vapor only. Lease costs will be Y420K ($3800)/month! I think, I’ll take a his and hers.

BMW AG is Germany’s attempt to develop a fuel-cell system. Electricity is generated through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. Honda’s Clarity will be available for lease in the US next month. Both cars have zero-emissions.