The US government is to plough millions of dollars into hydrogen fuel cell research.

A total of $52.5 million will be pumped into fuel cell technology studies over the next three years, with universities, US laboratories and private companies all eligible to apply for a share of the money.

US authorities aim to make fuel cells a viable technology by 2020 in order to drive down reliance on foreign oil reserves.

Energy secretary Samuel Bodman made the announcement during a speech at the Society of Automotive Engineers' annual conference in Detroit, Michigan.

Widespread implementation of fuel cell technology in the car market is current obstructed by a number of factors, principally the need for more development and insufficient storage space for the amount of hydrogen needed by drivers.

Secretary Bodman said that he had confidence that the free market would deliver a fuel cell car.

Fuel cells generate electric power and, unlike batteries, do not require recharging as long as they are supplied with hydrogen fuel.

Electricity is produced by passing hydrogen and oxygen over a catalyst, often made from platinum.


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