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UN predicts 5-10 million fuel cell vehicles by 2020 |
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Innovation
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Written by Peter Warren
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Tuesday, 02 May 2006 |
The UN is predicting a massive take-up in fuel cell technology over the next 15 years.
According to speakers at an international conference on fuel cells held
this November at the United Nations University Institute for New
Technologies, China India and Brazil have already embarked on active
programmes to develop hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
China, already acutely conscious of the economic contraints imposed on
it by its lack of oil reserves is carrying out fuel cell vehicles and
refuelling station demonstrations in Shanghai and Beijing.
It aims to develop advanced hybrid-electric and fuel cell vehicles via
a large number of universities, public sector research institutes and
private firms.
It was confirmed at the conference that India is also to roll out
hydrogen fuelled two and three wheeled vehicles while also exploring
the potential of hydrogen to power buildings, while Brazil has a well
established alternative energy programme based on ethanol and
bio-diesels.
But Professor Lynn Mytelka, senior research fellow at UNU-INTECH and
one of the co-ordinators of the conference warned that for fuel cells
to work countries need to take urgent action.
"If the future is still hydrogen, countries will need to take some tough decisions now."
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