Car giant Nissan has produced a hydrogen-powered car in what has been described as a significant step forward in green transport.
Researchers at Sunderland University teamed up with the car maker to adapt an Almera to run on hydrogen.
The green vehicle emits only water from its exhaust.
The HyPower project was unveiled on Wednesday at an event showcasing alternative fuel technologies for vehicles and transport systems.
The team was led by Dirk Kok from the Institute of Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice (AMAP).
Adrian Morris, operations manager at AMAP, said: "This project marks a significant step forwards in our understanding of hydrogen as a fuel for the automotive industry.
"This vehicle will act as a test bed to evaluate novel hydrogen technologies in vehicles and will enhance the region's status as an important automotive research and development centre."
Mr Kok added: "The HyPower project does demonstrate that hydrogen is a practical and environmentally-friendly alternative to fossil fuels.
"But there is still a long way to go before we see these vehicles driving about our roads."