A hydrogen fuelling station for cars that runs on the environmentally-friendly fuel is to be built in a district of California.

City and air regulators in Burbank announced plans to build the station this week as part of its drive to reduce air pollution through the use of new vehicle technologies.

The city also plans to have five Toyota Prius gas-electric hybrids converted to run on hydrogen fuel.

The city council voted 4-0 to spend $349,375 to buy the vehicles, pay for their fuelling costs over five years and provide utilities and related services for the fuelling station.

"We want to get off petroleum and we're making great strides to do that," said city councillor Todd Campbell.

He added that he hoped that other cities would also invest in hydrogen fuel technology.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District will spend $1.4 million on the project, which includes converting the Priuses and paying for most of the costs of building the fueling station.

"We got a substantial amount in comparison with the amount we have to invest, which means it's an efficient use of limited public funds," said Mayor Marsha Ramos.

The fuelling station is expected to be finished by the end of the year, to be built at the city's public works yard.

California has been one of the leading states in the US in the development of the hydrogen economy, and has also introduced a slew of stringent emissions legislation in recent years.