EC Considers the Development of Hydrogen Technologies

Europes's strategies for a cleaner air, secure energy supply, that will help combat climate change, preserve environment, and maintain competitive economy is reinforced by the consideration of two proporals for approval by the European Commistion. The proposals are the setting-up of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) and the simplification of approvals for hydrogen fueled vehicles. The industry-led private-public sector partnership will integrate programmes for research, technology development and demonstration activities over the next 6 years with a financial contribution from the EU of € 470 million, to be matched by the private sector.

Fuel cells are popularly used in electronic devices at home and in air, water, and land transport. Its accessibility and efficient use can be improved by studying in detail the cost and durability as well as other technical factors.  Currently, hydrogen vehicles are not included in the EU vehicle-type-approval system that results in complicated and costly approval procedures that hinder these vehicle types to be put in the market. The approval of the two proposals will offer long term solutions for sustainable energy and transport systems and reduce the adverse effects of climate change and toxic pollutants, and dependency on  diminishing oil and gas reserves.

For more information on hydrogen vehicles, see:  Memo/07/404 and Memo/07/405 as well as: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/automotive/directives/proposals.htm. The press release can be viewed at: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1468&type=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr