Car drivers could soon be high on hydrogen

Nov 24 2007 by David Williamson, Western Mail

BRITAIN’S love affair with the motor car will not end – but driving will become a radically less dirty experience, claims a Welsh motoring industry spokesman.

Tim Williams of the Welsh Automotive Forum yesterday predicted that hydrogen- powered cars could be widely available in 10 to 15 years.

The introduction of congestion charges in increasing numbers of cities will not stifle the desire to own a vehicle, he insisted.

But the National Assem- bly’s Sustainability Committee heard calls this week for measures to curtail car use.

The University of Glamorgan’s Stuart Cole said the dominance of the motor industry in advertising had to be countered.

He told AMs, “The UK car industry annual spend on advertising is £500m. Public transport advertising is nearer £60m.”

Professor Cole argues that just as legislation on advertising had dampened demand for cigarettes, so cars could be presented as dangers to people and the environment.

In the long-term he envisages car advertisements carrying health warnings. But at present he believes much more could be done to make public transport attractive.

He suggested public buildings across Wales could feature exciting advertisements – some using laser projection – which will encourage train and bus travel.

One of the key reasons why people use cars, he claimed, is that they are ignorant of the alternatives.

“People very often aren’t aware there’s a 10-minute service from Pontypridd to Cardiff, so people carry on using their cars until they get to the point where the congestion is so bad they look for some other form of transport and stumble upon the train.”

The committee also heard evidence from Lee Waters, national director of Sustrans Cymru.

He argued that Welsh people massively overestimate the time they will save using a car as opposed to taking a train or bus.

Mr Waters said people regularly believe they will save twice as much time going by car as they would in reality. He also blamed lack of information.