The project will be led by Gordon Murray Design, and is funded by the UK’s Technology Strategy Board under its Low Carbon Vehicle programme.

The study combines ACAL Energy’s novel Flowcath^® fuel cell technology – which significantly reduces the cost and improves the durability of a fuel cell engine – with Gordon Murray Design’s award-winning iStream^® concept, which allows for fast, low-cost production of lightweight vehicles.

Together, these British innovations could make fuel cell vehicles affordable to buyers in both developed and emerging markets.

‘Without carbon emission free vehicles that are affordable in both developed and developing countries, we will not address one of the core drivers of climate change,’ says Dr SB Cha, CEO of ACAL Energy.

Cha continues: ‘ACAL Energy and Gordon Murray Design aim to show that carbon emission-free fuel cell autos can be an affordable alternative to petroleum fueled cars, especially for the millions of new buyers in developing countries that will enter the market over the coming decade.’

ACAL Energy was recently awarded a £1 million investment from The Carbon Trust, by winning the Polymer Fuel Cell Challenge. This initiative aims to accelerate access to new markets for fuel cell products.