California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has officially signed an executive order intended to put fuel cell technology at the forefront of Californian transport.

The Hollywood legend sought to advocate the use of hydrogen-fuelled cars during his announcement, including outlining plans for the provision of an extensive hydrogen infrastructure.

Governor Schwarzenegger declared that California was to have a network of stations offering pollution-free hydrogen fuel within the next six years.

Speaking at the University of California Davis campus he announced: "I will sign an executive order creating a public-private partnership creating hydrogen highways all over the state of California by the year 2010." 

"Hundreds of hydrogen fuelling stations will be built. And these stations will be used by thousands of hydrogen-powered cars and trucks and buses. This starts a new era for clean California transportation."

It is thought that it will take at least a decade before the technology is a fully mainstream alternative to traditional automotive power sources, but the Californian leader has made clear his backing.

Daniel Sperling, director of the university's Institute of Transportation Studies, told Reuters the announcement marked the first stage in the important "signals from government" that were necessary to help the technology evolve into the commercial arena.

At present California has 22 hydrogen refuelling stations, with the US president also lending his support to fuel cell advancement, announcing a 43 per cent increase in federal spending to develop fuel cell cars and related service station last year.

Several types of fuel cell produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen over a platinum catalyst.