The push for clean running automobiles seems to be gaining momentum. At least, as far as hydrogen-powered fuel cells are concerned. At the 2009 Hydrogen Road Tour, which wrapped up in Vancouver, BC on June 3, there were no less than eight automakers represented, with a dozen different test cars on hand for both journalists and the general public to sample. The last time I saw this kind of travelling caravan - at the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Conference, in 2007 - there was less than half that number of cars, with just two automakers present, and the public and media alike were allowed to look but not touch.

Sponsored in part by the California Air Resources Board, BC Hydro, and several fuel cell interest groups, the Hydrogen Road Tour left Chula Vista, California on May 26, and travelled some 2700 kilometres up the west coast, with 28 stops along the way. Most of the stops were in southern California, but as the tour made its way north, it paused in places like Redding, California; Eugene, Oregon; and Bellingham, Washington. Part public relations event and part endurance contest, the idea was to "highlight the communities where fuel cells and hydrogen stations are entering early commercial markets" and bring the cars to the people. If you were prepared to stand in line for a little while, you could actually drive one of the cars, albeit on a very short route lasting no more than 15 minutes. Some new faces this time around included Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen, Daimler, and Nissan.

Mercedes - or Daimler, if you like - for example, brought its F-Cell FCV to the party. Most of the vehicles at this event share similar technology, but what makes this generation of the FCV unique is that it has been in service for almost three years, accumulating over 300,000 kilometres, according to the company. It can accommodate four passengers and has a range of some 270 kilometres between "fill-ups." Mercedes is calling the FCV the worlds first "pre-production" fuel cell vehicle and we may see it offered for sale to the public in the near future....though not in its current form. This version of the FCV is actually considered to be a little long in the tooth and it will likely be phased out.

Honda’s entry, the FCX Clarity, was the only vehicle present that has been built from the ground up as an alternate fuel vehicle. Virtually every other manufacturer has adapted fuel cell technology to fit into an existing model, but the Clarity was designed from scratch to run on alternate fuel. It features Honda’s own V-Flow fuel cell stack, and is, according to the company, capable of operating in sub-freezing temperatures, long a stumbling block for this type of technology. Of all the cars at this event, the Clarity was the most refined, had the most useable power, and was the most "normal".

One of the surprises at this event was the appearance of Korean manufacturers, Hyundai and Kia. Both share similar fuel cell technology, which is no surprise, since Hyundai is the parent company, and the Tucson and Borrego FCEVs feature systems that gives them ranges of 350 kilometres and 750 kilometres, respectively. Hyundai has also developed a 50-passenger fuel-cell propelled bus that is now in its second generation and will apparently be put into daily use in Korea next year.

2010, of course, will also see the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and the powers that be would dearly love to see this phase of the Hydrogen Highway bear fruit in time to schlepp competitors and spectators to and from Whistler and around town. Premier of B.C., Gordon Campbell, was on hand to wave a symbolic chequered flag as the cars arrived and gave a short speech extolling the virtues of hydrogen-fuelled transport and his version of the future.

All is not sweetness and light, however. Campbell’s Hydrogen Highway is facing massive obstacles, mainly in the area of infrastructure and production costs. Hydrogen, which is a by-product of hydro-electric power or natural gas production, isn’t exactly available at your local gas station. Even in Los Angeles, there are currently a mere six hydrogen refuelling stations. According to Catherine Dunwoody, executive director of the California Fuel Cell Partnership, making the transition to hydrogen power and putting together a business case for hydrogen-powered cars will be a "challenge."

"There is a sense of urgency to getting this technology out there," she explains. "Both car manufacturers and the service industry have made tremendous progress in the past few years and the technology is here. But we need the government to incentivize things. We need to get the right kinds of refuelling stations in the right kinds of places." Dunwoody hopes to see 25 new hydrogen stations in the Los Angeles area within the next five or six years, to service at least 4300 fuel cell vehicles that will be on the road by 2014.

"It’s going to be a bit of a dance," she adds.

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