California's Hummer-driving governor Arnold Schwarzenegger urged automakers Thursday to come up with greener vehicles with the goal of one day eliminating the gasoline engine. The former Hollywood action star, whose General Motors Hummer has been converted to run on hydrogen, spoke at the Los Angeles Auto Show alongside prototype cars powered by environmentally friendlier technologies.
"We challenged the car companies to innovate, to think beyond gasoline and to deliver cleaner, more efficient cars," he told reporters, a day after GM accelerated plans to roll out electric-powered cars and a new hybrid engine.
Schwarzenegger appeared besides hydrogen-fuelled BMW and Honda cars which can emit only water, and a Mercedes-Benz powered by a new breed of ultra-clean diesel.
GM showed off an ethanol-running version of its chunky Chevrolet Tahoe sport-utility vehicle, while niche manufacturer Tesla unveiled an electric sports car capable of reaching 100 kilometres per hour (62 miles per hour) in just four seconds.
The Republican governor won re-election this month in part by making himself a champion of an issue dear to nature-loving Democrats.
In September, Schwarzenegger signed a historic bill to cap greenhouse gas emissions, making California the first US state to impose limits on gases blamed for causing global warming.
Source: Agence France-Presse
