Which way ahead for hydrogen cars?

Competitors in the men's and women's marathons at the 2000 Sydney Olympics had an exciting glimpse of the future. The pace vehicle that led them round the 42 km circuit looked like a typical family wagon, but looks were deceptive. Under the bonnet was a stack of fuel cells, not an internal combustion engine. And as the car glided silently forward it emitted no smelly fumes or greenhouse gases "“ just a little water vapour.

The car was powered by hydrogen, the simplest and most abundant of all chemical elements. The fuel cells under the bonnet converted the hydrogen directly into electricity.

Many experts think hydrogen will replace petrol, diesel and natural gas as the main fuel for cars, buses and trucks over the next few decades. Already car manufacturers around the world have invested billions of dollars in research and development.

The advantages of hydrogen are enormous: no more smog-forming exhaust gases, no more carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming, no more worries about diminishing oil supplies and rising prices.

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