BELGIUM: September 4, 2008


BRUSSELS - The European Parliament voted in favour of new rules for hydrogen-powered cars, buses and lorries on Wednesday, seeking rigid standards for approving the controversial new technology when it is rolled out.


Cars contribute about 14 percent of the European Union's CO2 emissions and hydrogen is seen helping the EU meet its ambitious goals of curbing emissions by a fifth by 2020, compared to 1990 levels.

But environmentalists warn that the technology is still many years from being launched, is less helpful than simple fuel efficiency measures, and can only cut emissions if the hydrogen is created using renewable power.

The EU-wide approval criteria approved on Wednesday are aimed at averting the risk of each of the bloc's 27 member states drawing up its own approval standards.

"This would lead to high costs for manufacturers, create safety risks and also considerably impede the spread of hydrogen technology in the EU," said a Parliament statement.

British socialist MEP Arlene McCarthy said a framework of laws would boost the nascent industry.

"Sales of electric cars and other alternatives have soared, but hydrogen cars are only on the cusp of large scale production," she added.

Critics have questioned whether hydrogen is safe enough to be used on the roads, but McCarthy said a labelling scheme would increase safety by helping rescue teams identify the car's hydrogen source. The plans were approved with 644 votes in favour, and 2 against. Member states are shortly expected to give the plans the approval needed to make them law.

"Now the EU Member States will have the final say and I hope for their support," said EU Industry Commissioner Gunter Verheugen. "They have the potential to make Europe's air cleaner and reduce its dependency on fossil fuels."

But parliament said the successful introduction of hydrogen-powered vehicles on the European market would still depend on whether the appropriate hydrogen filling station network can be established in time.

(Reporting by Pete Harrison; editing by Sophie Walker)


Story by Pete Harrison


REUTERS NEWS SERVICE