Automotive giant Ford is throwing its full weight behind the future of fuel cell technology, according to its president.

Ford chief Nick Scheele says that the company's latest fuel cell offering - the Focus FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle) - heralds the future of the transport industry.

Mr Scheele told the Orlando Sentinel that the delivery of 30 of the vehicles to the region would take place this year or at the start of next, declaring that the technology was set to take off.

"It's important, no doubt about it," he said. "This is our best alternative to weaning ourselves from a dependence on oil."

The Focus FCV is powered by hydrogen and can travel about 200 miles before it needs refuelling.

In order that Ford can continue developing the vehicle it has equipped the new fleet with a series of onboard data computers.

This enables the automotive manufacturer to download the latest performance data to its central computer at its research facility, gaining understanding of details such as mileage and fuel consumption.