Researchers working for the Korean car manufacturing giant Hyundai Motors are soon to be testing vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells at a test site under construction in the Inland Valley.

Hyundai has already put contractors to work on a hydrogen fuelling station at the Hyundai America Technical Centre in Chino, and a fleet of five SUVs, powered by emission-free hydrogen fuel cells, will be tested on site.

Hyundai spokesman Alfred Gloddeck said that while hydrogen fuel cell technology still remains very much in its infancy, the new test site in Chino was a reflection of the company's success in researching and developing fuel cell-powered vehicles.

"This is actually a second generation of vehicles for us," said Mr Gloddeck.

"This next generation of vehicles will have a more refined fuel cell technology."

Mr Gloddeck went on to say that there were no plans to convert the test centre into a retail fuelling station anytime in the future, and that use of the site will be reserved for the five compact SUVs.

The project has been funded by a grant from the US Department of Energy.