The clean vehicular fuel and technology market has taken centre stage this week, as a number of leading carmakers at the Paris car show presented a range of high-tech automobiles designed to deliver amid all the hype and investment surrounding hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicles.

Leading German car manufacturer BMW unveiled its new H2R, recorded as the fastest hydrogen-powered car on Earth, capable of a maximum speed of 300 kmph, highlighting that fuel economy does not necessarily have a detrimental effect on performance.

Other manufacturers rolled out their own fuel cell offerings at the show, including a new version of Kia's 2005 Sportage model.

The vehicle, which has a top speed of 93 mph, is the latest addition to the company's fuel cell range and even boasts aluminium body panels in an effort to cut the weight and improve efficiency.

Elsewhere, Fritz Henderson, the head of General Motors' European arm, told Reuters the key to a cleaner, sustainable transport future was the continued diversification of clean fuel research and development.

"Our bet is that the way to take the automobile out of the environmental equation is the hydrogen economy and hydrogen-based fuel cells," he said.

"We are spending a lot of time, money and effort to get there, but you can't focus on only one (technology). You have to keep your feet in various different camps."