Auto Manufacturers Touring Europe to Show Hydrogen Vehicles

MercedesMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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, HondaHondaJapan, 1948 > present102 models
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, HyundaiHyundaiRepublic of Korea, 1967 > present79 models
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and ToyotaToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
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will be touring Europe together with seven of their hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) for a month starting September 13 in nine cities. The automakers will allow consumers to examine and test-drive their FCEVs during the tour. The goal of the entire tour is to boost awareness of hydrogen vehicles among consumers and policy makers. If these vehicles are ever going to become commonplace, then they need a sufficient infrastructure. 

"The European Hydrogen Road Tour is a great opportunity for our company and partners to demonstrate the readiness of the technology to European consumers," said Michel Gardel, vice-president of environment affairs at Toyota Motor Europe.

The tour begins in Hannover on September 13 and then travels to Bolzano, Paris, Cardiff, Bristol, Swindon, London and Copenhagen. The tour is sponsored by the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking program that was created by the European Commission to promote FCEVs. The program has already completed a test of 19 FCEVs in Oslo and Copenhagen to prove that they will work in Scandinavian conditions. 

H2 Logic Denmark will supply hydrogen to refuel the vehicles in some cities. 

While expensive, the technology exists to build fuel cell vehicles. Honda leases its FCX Clarity in limiited numbers in California. The problem is establishing an infastructure for refueling them.