Plug-in hybrid and electric cars have been considered the only viable alternative to traditional vehicles for a long time. The biggest automakers have been making large investments in these technologies and the national governments have been doing the utmost to promote such cars by suggesting financial benefits and generous incentives to consumers which opt for purchasing alternative fuel car. However, mass adoption is falling behind and the sales are not as strong as the industry has anticipated.

This is one of the reasons why auto industry giants, Hyundai, Toyota and Honda, have turned their sights to alternative fuel cars such as hydrogen vehicles. Hydrogen supporters claim that the hydrogen cars are cleaner and have capability to deliver a 300-mile range compared with electric and plug-in hybrids delivering 80-100 at most.

It is announced that the Hyundai Intrado and Tucson Fuel Cell SUV will hit the dealership of Southern California this spring. Major Japanese car maker Toyota is intending to start selling its hydrogen-powered vehicles next year. T seems that the reality of new fuel-efficient vehicles is already here. However, a few serious questions arise in terms of regulation and infrastructure, and it`s still unclear whether consumers are ready to adopt hydrogen-powered cars.

The owner of Alexandria Hyundai and the chairman of the Washington Auto Show Kevin Reilly in its interview with the Washington Post called hydrogen cars «a better bet than some of the alternatives already in the market» adding that the corresponding infrastructure is still be created to make it a viable alternative for car drivers.

The emission-free cars use hydrogen as its onboard fuel instead of traditional gas. The car is powered by the electricity created through reacting hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel cell. This chemical reaction has the only byproduct, it`s water which comes out of the vehicle`s tailpipe in steam. Even though some greenhouse gases are still released during the hydrogen extraction process the research has shown that the overall carbon footprint is lower hydrogen-powered cars that the impact from electric plug-ins and electric vehicles. It will take driver a few minutes to fill up at a hydrogen pump compared to several hours for electric charging stations.