The M4 motorway in South Wales, UK, will be made into a ‘hydrogen highway’ with a network of alternative fuel stations stretching between Swansea, Cardiff and Newport, the government has announced.

The plan includes developing electric plug-in facilities, and hydrogen, compressed natural gas and bio-methane-filling points at strategic locations, aimed at promoting hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars on the route compared with petrol-driven cars.

The move is expected to cut emissions as the hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered cars would emit only water vapour compared with the harmful emissions of the conventional cars.

This comes as the government has designated Wales as a leading low-carbon economic area for developing alternative fuel, including hydrogen from renewable sources.

The project is expected to finish by 2015 and will make the road the country’s longest hydrogen highway.