PIONEERING Westminster City Council is to buy a pollution-free vehicle of the future as part of its crusade for cleaner air. The revolutionary hydrogen-powered van costing £33,135 will go on the road with the council's parks department in April.

The van, based on a Subaru mini-van, is being marketed by London-based fuel cell manufacturer Zevco (Zero Emission Vehicle Company) and the deal marks the first sale of the vehicle by the company. Powered by a fuel cell, a device which combines hydrogen and oxygen electrochemically to generate electricity and water, water vapour is the only emission produced. The vehicle has a range of about 200 miles, a top speed of around 100mph and can operate all day without recharging.

If the first vehicle - effectively a six-month experiment - proves successful the council could buy other hydrogen-powered vehicles in the future and promote their use among other fleet operators.