With an aim of creating a renewable refueling infrastructure and to promote the use of hydrogen and electric power vehicles as an alternative for petrol-driven machines, the M4 in south Wales is proposed to be turned into "hydrogen highway" as announced by Welsh Secretary, Peter Hain.

Equipped with a network of alternative Fuel stations between Swansea, Cardiff and Newport, the M4 in South Wales will become “Hydrogen Highway” under a scheme exposed yesterday and the region will be at the forefront of greener road transport in the UK. Electric plug-in facilities, hydrogen, compressed natural gas and bio-methane-filling points will be provided.

Since long time, Hydrogen has been advertized as an alternative energy source to carbon-rich fossil fuels. And creating “hydrogen-highway” is emergence of idea of having silent hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars that will be able to use the motorway by 2015. Only water vapors will be left out against harmful emissions that cars give out today. The only hindrance in the way of successful implementation of this idea is the lack of hydrogen fuelling stations.

Supporting the scheme, Gordon James, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru said, “This is excellent news. It will help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions for the transport sector which is responsible for about 12% of carbon dioxide emissions in Wales. It shows that Wales is prepared to take the lead in this area, which is something we can proud of”.