Irvine Hopes on Hydrogen Highway

Irvine officials are testing out the future of alternative-fuel vehicles.

Toyota is offering the use of one of its vehicles to Irvine to gauge public support for hydrogen-fueled cars, and city officials agreed to drive the prototype around town to show their support for alternative-fuel vehicles, they said. Production of such a vehicle is at least 10 years away.

Krom said the city's commitment to a clean environment and the university's hydrogen fueling station helped make the pilot program a "good fit."

About 100 fuel-cell vehicles are being tested across the state, according to the California Fuel Cell Partnership. They will be served by 16 hydrogen fueling stations, including the one at UC Irvine. The other 15 stations are expected to open by 2007.