So says U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis, R-S.C., who helped create a makeshift showroom Tuesday for prototype hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on the street outside his Capitol Hill office.

“People expect California to get this,” Inglis said of the high-tech alternative to gas and oil. “They may not expect South Carolina to get this, but we do.”

Inglis is a founding member of the U.S. House’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus, a bipartisan group of lawmakers who want to see more private and public investment in the technology.

Scientists at USC, Clemson University and the Savannah River Site already are working to create a practical fuel source from hydrogen — the most abundant element on earth.

BMW, which has a plant in Greer, already has invested $50 million in hydrogen projects.

“This is not science fiction; it’s not way off; it’s here and now,” Inglis said, pointing to the Army pickup, General Motors hatchback and two streamlined, silver motorcycles parked in the shadow of the Capitol — all of them hydrogen powered.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., organized a hydrogen caucus in the Senate last year. He touted the energy bill that passed the Senate Tuesday for the $3.5 billion it sets aside for hydrogen research.

“What Detroit was to the automotive industry, South Carolina can be to hydrogen,” he said.

Hydrogen fuel proponents fall into many categories:

• To some it is a boon for the environment.

• To others it is a new American industry and a job engine.

• To yet others it will decrease the world’s dependency on oil from the Middle East.

Tuesday’s event, purposefully scheduled a few days before the July 4 holiday, was billed “End Dependence Day.”

Every S.C. member of Congress belongs to either the House or Senate hydrogen fuel caucus.