Motorcycle firm Yamaha Motor says it is currently working on a new fuel cell-powered model.

The Japanese industrial giant says that it has already begun road-testing some of the new vehicles, which could be marketed as early as next year.

A report in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun says that a methanol fuel cell powers the bike, dramatically cutting the levels of pollution emitted.

The FC06 model, which is based on the company's Passol electric scooter, is now undergoing further tests.

Using fuel cells and a four-litre tank the bike is said to be capable of travelling more than 100 kilometres.

The methanol fuel cell produces electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen over a platinum catalyst.