Consumer use of fuel cell vehicles is expected to be the main driving force behind fuel cell technology in the future, although the level of platinum used in the technology will be an important factor in its success according to new research.

The report, "Fuel Cell Transportation Market Opportunities, Strategies, and Forecasts 2007-2013", by Research and Markets, says that "personal power" represents the most likely avenue for fuel cell vehicle development.

It predicts that people will begin to use a fuel cell vehicle as a second car for small, localised trips, ideally suitable for fuel cell technology since not much seating, power or weight would be needed.

The report also comments that innovative changes in vehicle design and materials to reduce vehicle weight and improve aerodynamics will benefit fuel cell vehicles as well as conventional vehicles.

However, it goes on to warn that the cost of fuel cell technology remains a prohibitive factor. The use of platinum in the core of the fuel cell is a central issue, the price of which will have to be drastically reduced for fuel cell vehicles to be viable.

There are also significant infrastructure investments that need to be made to make fuel cells a reality, with the cost of new infrastructure for fuel cell refuelling expected to rise from $2 billion per year initially to $21 billion per year by 2010, which will have to be borne by governments as well as private industry.

Finally total vehicle fuel cell markets for autos are expected to grow from $772.7 million in 2007 to $98 billion by 2013. By the end of the forecast period, trucks are expected to account for the largest portion of spending.