Revolve rally to show fuel cell vehicles in UK R evolve 2007, which will take place in the UK in early June, will place examples of hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles from major automakers on British roads in real driving and traffic conditions, publicly showing that hydrogen and fuel cell technology is a realistic, practical and effective option for general transport, and is not limited to mass public transport or specialist roles.
As part of a three-day event, the cars will travel from Brighton to London on World Environment Day, 5 June. Mayor of London Ken Livingstone will welcome the cars at the finish line in Trafalgar Square, and after the rally the range of zero-emission vehicles will be displayed at Trafalgar Square and at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park, when celebrities and the public will get the opportunity to drive the vehicles. The event is supported by the Mayor of London, the Greater London Authority and Transport for London (TfL).
According to Revolve, there is little awareness of this important technology among the British public, and consequently public support remains underdeveloped. Without support there is little incentive for politicians to help create the climate in which industry can introduce such bold new technologies.
The only significant project currently demonstrating fuel cell transportation in the UK runs three DaimlerChrysler fuel cell buses as part of the Clean Urban Transport for Europe (CUTE) program, operated in London by TfL and fueled by BP. However, as yet there is no project to demonstrate the relevance of hydrogen and fuel cells in the wider transportation context, although last spring the Mayor of London called for the procurement of 10 buses and 60 other hydrogen vehicles [FCB, April 2006].