The Commission announced plans on 13 July 2006 to encourage the development of technologically advanced hydrogen vehicles and invited all interested parties to comment on its proposals.
The automotive sector is currently 98% dependent on oil. However, the Commission has set itself the objective of substituting 20% of traditional fuels with alternatives by 2020, identifying hydrogen as one of the most promising alternative ranges of fuels (see EurActiv LinksDossier on alternative fuels).
By setting new safety requirements for hydrogen powered vehicles and incorporating them into the European type-approval framework, the Commission hopes to boost consumer confidence and facilitate the commercialisation of such vehicles, so as to encourage investment. It is likely though that the main barrier for marketing hydrogen cars will remain their cost.
Hydrogen-fuelled motors do not produce any carbon emissions or greenhouse gases, contrarily to diesel and petrol, and will therefore contribute to the improvement of air quality.
In a parallel development, the European Parliament postponed, until September 2006, its vote on an earlier Commission proposal aimed at tightening up pollution limits for petrol and diesel cars, the ‘Euro 5’ proposal.
