Three major car manufacturers have outlined their plans to introduce hydrogen-powered cars in California and have urged other to follow suit.

General Motors, Honda and BMW are all developing competing "zero emission" vehicles which run on fuel cells, and have secured the backing of California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

BMW plans to release a number of its executive seven series, powered by a gasoline engine and hydrogen fuel cells, in 2010, Reuters reports.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Wilhelm Hall, general manager of environmental engineering at BMW North America, urged other automakers to manufacture environmentally friendly vehicles and to help bring to life Schwarzenegger's vision of a "hydrogen highway" in California.

Green cars are proving popular in California, especially amid rising fuel prices, with Hollywood celebrities helping to promote the popular gasoline-electric hybrid Toyota Prius.

Under California's "hydrogen blueprint", the state will have up to 2,000 hydrogen vehicles and 100 refueling stations by 2010.


Ÿ Adfero Ltd