News Interacative. Perth is putting the first three hydrogen fuel cell buses in the sourthern hemisphere into operation next month.

The DaimlerChrysler Citaro buses are like those being tested in other cities including Amsterdam, Beijing, London, Luxembourg and Madrid. (Earlier post.)

The State Government is contributing $8 million to the $10.25 million trial, with the rest coming from the Commonwealth.

Perth project director Simon Whitehouse said that although the trial was expensive it was chickenfeed compared with the potential cost of oil in the future.

“Not only is the price of petrol going to go up, it’s getting harder to get. It’s a case of when, not if, things have to change,” he said.

BP will provide the hydrogen from its Kwinana refinery.