Vauxhall reveals hydrogen car plans
Vauxhall launches the new, predominantly electric-powered Ampera hatchback in May but the brand is already testing even greener technology.
Vauxhall has revealed a fourth attempt at a hydrogen car, named the HydroGen4, and says it could be ready to arrive on UK roads as early as 2016.
The new Vauxhall Ampera, a four-seat hatchback available to order from £29,000 in the UK, uses an electric motor to power the car for 60 miles. After that a petrol engine recharges the battery on the move, extending the range to 350 miles.
The result is fuel economy in excess of 100mpg and CO2 emissions below 40g/km - leading to free road tax and exemption from the London congestion charge in the UK.
However, hydrogen is seen by many as the future of green cars because it delivers zero tailpipe emissions just like an electric vehicle.
It also offers much longer range than an electric car and refuelling is much quicker. Vauxhall has tested hydrogen technology over two million test miles in recent years.
However, hydrogen technology is still in its infancy because a recharging infrastructure is not in place and the technology is still untested in terms of safety and production costs.
Bill Parfitt, Vauxhall Motors' Director for Government Affairs and Public Policy, comments on the UK H2Mobility initiative: "Following our company's unrelenting focus on hydrogen fuel cell technology development, the launch and successful roll-out of these vehicles will now depend on the availability of hydrogen to the consumer in a real life environment."
In the mean time, the Vauxhall Ampera can be filled at a standard petrol station or via an electric charger and offers a range more than three times the distance of an electric car.