Though Honda is the first to put a fuel cell powered vehicle into the hands of the consumer, other manufacturers aren't far
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| Though Honda is the first to put a fuel cell powered vehicle into the hands of the consumer, other manufacturers aren't far behind. (Photo: American Honda) |
While development of hydrogen-powered vehicles is on a global scale, one of the epicenters of the ZEV Hydrogen 'wave' is California. What's made the boom possible is Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's ability to link the manufacturers, refueling companies and end users by committing to create the so-called "hydrogen highway"; a network of hydrogen fueling systems. To be completed in five year's time, the hydrogen highway would allow private owners to fill up at various locations throughout Los Angeles and elsewhere in California, thus eliminating the greatest problem with hydrogen-powered vehicles, a refueling infrastructure.
In five year's time, if the technology, reliability and safety of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have been established, and pricing has been adjusted to the point where consumers can afford to buy into a hydrogen economy, expect to see an entirely new breed of environmentally friendly vehicle roaming the streets of California, and hopefully beyond.