GENERAL Motors - the world's largest motor manufacturer - is planning to launch a hydrogen-fuelled demonstration car fleet to help win customer acceptance for the 'fuel of the future'. Depot-based fleets and public utilities are likely to be the first operators of 'tomorrow's vehicles'.

Dr Erhard Schubert, co-director of General Motors' Global Alternative Propulsion Centre, said: 'A fleet demonstration programme is needed because we need the feedback. We are talking to companies about the product and which vehicle platform should be used to accommodate the fuel cell system so there are no seating or load constraints. We could have a demonstration programme within two years using an existing vehicle platform.'

General Motors believes it will have a hydrogen-powered production vehicle - likely to cost the same as a similar diesel-engined model - ready for 2004 and that by 2010 10% of global sales of vehicles will be fuel cell-based, reaching 25% by 2025.

• Read the special report into fuels of the future on pages 28-29 of this week's Fleet News.