Hydrogen powered vehicles visited the District during their two week road tour across the U.S. showcasing what is said to be the future in creating clean vehicles.

The Hydrogen Road Tour made a stop at D.C.'s L'Enfant Plaza Thursday with nine different automakers of hydrogen powered vehicles in tow. The automakers, the U.S. Department of Energy, California Fuel Cell Partnership, National Hydrogen Association, and U.S. DOT are sponsoring the tour to showcase that many hydrogen vehicles are closer to becoming more available to the general public.

Gas prices and concerns about the environment have many drivers wanting to change how they get around.

And today, people looking for a change got the chance to see and ride in cars that run on hydrogen--the most plentiful gas in the universe. The cars of the future were brought to the area by automakers Honda, Toyota, Nissan, General Motors, Mercedes and BMW. They look like any other car on the road, but they run like nothing drivers have seen before.

Jason Perron of BMW says "the environmental impact of the vehicles is zero. In fact, you can drink the water out of the tailpipe." The cars are powered by hydrogen, meaning they are gas-free and promote zero emissions, leaving nothing but water vapor in their wake.

Monica Murphy, of General Motors says the cars "have a fuel cell instead of an engine and transmission." She says the cars create electricity from the hydrogen the vehicles are filled with as people drive them.

The technology is certainly tempting for drivers looking for a change; it is cheaper, easier and more efficient. All nine major automakers have at least one model out, but they are not on the market because there areonly a handful of places to fill up. Here in D.C., there is only one place to fill up. "It's a cleaner vehicle and a good solution, but it still beg the question, where do we get the fuel from," said driver Paul Dylla.

Automakers are calling on Congress and oil companies to support the infrastructure necessary to accommodate the new cars, but until then, the cars of the future will remain just that.

A study sponsored by the Department of Energy says with the funding, mass production of the cars could begin by 2015.

The two-week tour will make 31 stops in 18 states, stretching from Maine to California.

Visit www.HydrogenRoadTour.com for more information and tour dates. 

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Hydrogen Vehicles Showcased

BMW Hydrogen Series 7

Daimler Mercedes-Benz F-Cell

GM Chevy Equinox FCV

Honda FCX Clarity

Hyundai Tucson FCV

Kia Sportage FCV

Nissan X-Trail FCV

Toyota Highlander FCHV

Volkswagen Touran

Tiguan HyMotion