Hydrogen has been tipped to be the vehicle fuel of the future as its widespread use will dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  There are already hydrogen powered vehicle prototypes and some models are on the road already, including family cars like the Honda FCX Clarity.
In the US and Japan, hydrogen power for transport is already gaining a foothold. The Californian Hydrogen Highway already has twenty hydrogen refuelling stations across the state, and eight more are planned.
Iceland has set itself a 2050 deadline to be the world’s first hydrogen economy – aiming to meet all its energy needs through hydrogen.  This would cut the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50%. Many of Iceland’s buses have already been converted to run on hydrogen and are refuelled at a filling station outside Reykjavik, the country’s capital.
Two disadvantages to using hydrogen is that it is expensive to produce and harder to store than petrol.  Unlike fossil fuels, hydrogen is not available as a pre-existing source of energy.  It needs to be produced and is then stored as a carrier of energy, in a similar way to a battery.  For it to become a normal consumer fuel, countries would have to make large infrastructure investments.
In comparison, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) can be recharged by an external source while parked, meaning that the vehicle’s electric motors can be provide more power, and there is less need to rely on the petrol engine.  The first commercial PHEV was the Chevrolet Volt – launched in the US in 2010.  PHEVs are a step forward in hybrid vehicle technology, as it allows the recharging of the motor to take place while the car is stationary, whereas non plug-in hybrids can only recharge their electric motor batteries whilst in motion.
Until hydrogen production prices fall and national networks of refuelling stations are put in place, it would seem that hybrid technology has the edge over hydrogen.

If you’re someone who loves nothing more than travelling, but are often worried about your environmental impact, you will love hybrid vehicles.
You’ll be able to get from A to B with ease, knowing that you’ve travelled in the most fuel-efficient manner possible.
Through minimising your fuel usage, you’ll lower the CO2 emissions your car produces, making your journeys far greener than they would be if you were driving a conventional vehicle.
Each time you take a trip, you’ll be reassured to know your vehicle is doing everything possible too to make sure your journey is eco friendly. Using its dual-engine system, the car detects whether to use its electric or combustion mode, meaning it’ll always choose the greenest way for the vehicle to be powered.
As well as investing in a hybrid car to lower your environmental impact, there are some simple measures you can follow to ensure your driving behaviour is conducive to this too.
In order to save on fuel, make sure you stick to the speed limits on roads, check your tyre pressures regularly and ensure your car is clear of clutter.
As well as this, you should avoid using air-conditioning where possible, as this is fairly fuel intensive, and try not to stop and start too frequently – this is more fuel efficient.
All of these things will help to ensure your driving style does as little as possible to affect your fuel consumption when you’re out and about on the roads.
With fuel prices rising regularly and showing no signs of stopping any time soon, there is a need for people to try and reduce their fuel consumption in order to save money.
More and more people are keen to boost their green credentials, as well as saving some money, and one way of doing this is by investing in a hybrid or electric vehicle.

If you love travelling around and you want to get away in Blighty this year, you might want to consider heading off on a UK road trip.
There are plenty of beautiful and amazing destinations to visit in the country, from the Highlands of Scotland to Land’s End in Cornwall, so you definitely won’t be stuck for things to see and do if that’s how you choose to holiday here this year.
If you’re concerned about the environmental impact your road trip might have, it could be sensible to get a hybrid car to do your journey in.
Anyone who’s planning to take their whole brood on their trip should try and find the best family car out there, to ensure their journeys are both eco friendly and comfortable.
There are some huge advantages to having a hybrid vehicle, other than the obvious green credentials it boasts.
Financially, you’ll be better off with a hybrid model, as they are far more fuel efficient than their conventional counterparts. They use around 15 to 30 per cent less petrol per mile, meaning you’ll save a substantial amount of money whenever you refuel. They also have a very wide range, so you’ll be able to travel further than you normally would, consuming less fuel along the way.
On top of this, you’ll save on your road tax if you’re travelling around in a hybrid car, which is a good incentive to purchase one.
If you are heading away with your youngsters, you will definitely be able to teach them far more about protecting the environment and helping to combat climate change if you’re travelling in a vehicle which boasts eco-friendly credentials.
So why not head off on a UK road trip this year in a low-emission vehicle, taking in the sights and sounds of the great British countryside, at the same time as minimising your environmental impact?