A fuel cell-powered car has recorded a landmark feat after achieving fuel economy of 3,836 kilometres per litre, equivalent to 9,024 miles to the gallon.

The PAC-II prototype fuel cell vehicle was designed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and accomplished the record at the Shell Eco-marathon in May, Fuel Cell Today reports.

The environmentally friendly prototype used 1.75 grams of hydrogen to travel 25.3 kilometres during the first stage of the Ecomarathon in France.

Students taking part in the event must construct an energy-efficient vehicle which can travel 25 kilometres at a minimum average speed of 30 kilometres per hour.

Manufacturers are continuing to develop the use of fuel cell technology in a bid to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

This month, UTC, a division of United Technologies, revealed that its fuel cell technology had successfully managed to power a 2003 Nissan X-Trail FCV for more than 25,000 kilometres, following efforts to advance fuel cells for the transportation sector.

Meanwhile in China, DaimlerChrysler has provided three fuel cell-powered Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses to the Beijing authorities in order to examine the desirability of using environmentally-friendly fuel cell technology in the country, where air pollution is a major problem.