Technology used in fuel cell-powered vehicles will need to surmount a raft of challenges if it is to be genuinely viable for car companies, according to auto industry experts.

The obstacles facing the vehicles were outlined at the National Hydrogen Association by representatives from the industry's major marques, including Ford, DaimlerChrysler and General Motors.

Chief among the reservations aired were the prohibitively high costs that mean that some vehicles cost up to $1 million and the difficulty of stopping hydrogen dissipating from the tank, which currently means that the cars can travel a maximum of just 150 miles on a full standard-volume fuel tank.

However, there was consensus among manufacturers that the fact that technology already exists to transport hydrogen in pipelines and tanks means that the basis for effective distribution is already in place.

Klaus Bonhof, manager of the alternative fuels division of Daimler Chrysler told Reuters: "We all have our homework to do in the coming years. We must produce technology viable in volume, and that technology must be commercially applicable."

Earlier this week, Akihiro Kashiwagi of Mazda said that the company could be ready to commence mass production of its fuel cell-powered Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE within five to ten years.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd