Comm: "As city populations mushroom so too does the pressure on urban transport. Our growing dependence on cars doesn't just clog roads. It damages the environment and burns up dwindling fossil fuels. This weeks `Hands On' looks at some solutions to the urban problem. While not forgetting that an estimated 900 million people in rural areas have no reliable access to main roads at all.

Germany - Hydrogen Cars, Clean Dreams

"This is the Munich Airport bus. It could be the bus of the future. Instead of an internal combustion engine, it's powered by fuel cells. And they are powered by the fuel of the future - hydrogen.

"Hydrogen is one of the Earth's most common chemical elements - found in and produced from water - H2O. It's almost certainly the way forward.

"Filling up takes about ten minutes and gives a range of 150 kilometres. But fuel cells are expensive and the hydrogen gas is heavy and bulky.

"The hydrogen is fed to the fuel cells from the gas storage system on the roof. The cells supply electricity to power the bus. A vehicle where racy performance doesn't matter has many advantages."

Wolfgang Burmeister, Engineer - Hydrogen Project: "The advantages basically are that the resources you have with hydrogen appear to be unlimited. That you have no carbon dioxide emissions if you make it with regenerative energies like solar power, like water power and bio-energy."

Comm: "Most road vehicles are powered by fossil fuels - depleting them and causing pollution. World population growth and increasing demand for mobility will make it worse.

"To combat this, BMW are developing a range of hydrogen powered cars. They've come up with a version that keeps the internal combustion engine - for the moment. A dual system, that can be powered by conventional petrol - or by new, clean hydrogen.

"Even an internal combustion engine using hydrogen can deliver the dynamic performance demanded by BMW's customers.

"These cars are powered by liquid hydrogen which gives them a greater range and
needs much less storage space than gas. Even so, with a dual-fuel car, a big extra tank has to be squeezed in somewhere.

"BMW have produced fifteen prototypes which are roaming the streets of Hanover and Munich in a pilot scheme. With growing demand for cars around the world, carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced if the climate is to be protected. Hydrogen may eventually completely replace petrol altogether.

"The vehicles are refuelled at the pump at Munich airport. The liquid hydrogen pump is highly automated - not absolutely necessary - but extremely convenient.

"But there's a problem. There are only two hydrogen pumps in Germany. Only eleven in the entire world."

Dr. Juliane Wolf, BMW: "So we have a situation of chicken and egg. If we don't have the cars there are no filling stations and on the other hand if we don't have the filling stations there will be no cars and the customer has no hydrogen."

Comm: "Gaseous hydrogen can be made on site at filling stations. But existing methods create a problem - a technical breakthrough is needed."

Dr. Juliane Wolf, Traffic and Environment Expert, BMW: "Nowadays we produce hydrogen from natural gas or mineral oil which produce CO2, we don't want to have CO2, so the only chance to be a sustainable fuel would be to produce hydrogen with the help of the sun's energy."

Comm: "And this really is the answer. The energy reaching the earth's surface from the sun is ten thousand times present day world energy consumption. Even in a densely populated, highly industrialised country like Germany, the solar energy shining on the country is eighty nine times more than it actually needs.

"For all practical purposes therefore solar energy is unlimited, and causes no pollution. Solar power can be used to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen by means of electrolysis. The oxygen escapes into the atmosphere and the hydrogen is stored for use."

Interview Dr. Juliane Wolf, Traffic and Environment Expert, BMW: "We looked at many alternative fuels and we evaluated all the common fuels. And we came to the result altogether that hydrogen is the only sustainable fuel for the future."

Comm: "There's still some way to go - mass production of hydrogen based vehicles, more filling stations, cleaner ways to produce hydrogen.

"But when those problems are solved, hydrogen, from the sun's energy, really does seem to be the fuel of the future."

The Netherlands - On Your Bike

Comm: "Luud Schimmelpennick is a man with a mission."

Luud Schimmelpennick: "I've been a member of Amsterdam Car Free that's some group who makes action to go to another line. And there was a referendum in Amsterdam and the most people wanted it to be car free."

Comm: "Luud's been pushing bikes since the `60s. Not just any old bikes but white bikes that can be picked up at strategic locations by people who want to take public transport into their own hands. The idea is quite straightforward."

Luud Schimmelpennick: "This is the town map of Amsterdam we are now here and I want to go to the town hall that is 21 all you have to do is put in my personal key, give zone where I am going and then say `ya!' I want to go to this one okay, take out your card and then the bike with flashing lights which I now I can take out and go to the other location."

Comm: "So what are the bikes special features?"

Luud Schimmelpennick: "This is the bell it is protected and easily used. It must be strong, it must be not ah so much maintenance and people can use it. Here you see the light, it is integrated in the frame. It's strong material. One thing is that our tyre in front can never be flat. You have a unisex machine it must also be for people who are short and tall. So we have five positions on this bike. Only pushing is enough to bring the bike on a good line."

Comm: "Costing just half a dollar a ride it would seem the perfect solution for commuters or people making short direct trips."

Ruud de Kort, Transport Co: "We have the tram, the subway, the bus which cover the larger parts of Amsterdam but for the short distances for the short trips you can use the white bike if you don't have your bike with you."

Comm: "What do the locals think?"

Vox pop, woman: "I like the idea in theory it would be very nice if it would give less cars on the street."

Vox pop: Woman and man: "It's easy to rent them and to go into Amsterdam because you have to travel a lot and with the bike it's easy."

Vox pop Man: "I don't feel like using one of those cards I prefer change you know."

Luud Schimmelpennick: "Ya. It's more flexible to put a coin in but it is dangerous the parking meters are broken open and it is a big problem so working without money is safe and is in effect an easy way."

Comm: "The bike is not for those who want to deviate from the root and the scheme is so new it's success is hard to gauge. But the aim is to have 40 stands within the year and a permanent supply of 750 bikes."

Luud Schimmelpennick: "I think it is a kind of street furniture and you run and drive and all the people can use it again that's the way it works."

France, Liselec - Electric Cars

Comm: "Getting people onto a bike isn't always easy. It may be simpler to tempt drivers out of their own cars into pollution free models which can be shared or pooled for communal use around inner cities. Cutting congestion into the bargain."

Jacques Mollard, Comm unaute d'Agglomeration de La Rochelle: "La Rochelle is using the electric car since 1986 we think it's successful we are increasing year after year the fleet, the electric fleet, and we try to share with our other cities and other countries what we do for the city."

Comm: "Liselec is a public transport scheme allowing both commuters and businessmen to share a pool of zero emission non-polluting electric cars to navigate around the city."

Anne Chane, Communaute d'Agglomeration de la Rochelle: "In fact you have 50 cars located on 6 different stations in the city centre of La Rochelle and when you want to have this service you just have to sign a contract. Then we will give you two things a smart card that enables you to unlock the doors of the car and a secret code. After you will be able to take a car wherever you want, whenever you want 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

Comm: "One of the schemes fans, Alexandra uses the car to commute and shop. She is always guaranteed a parking space at one of the city's six dedicated parking lots."

Alexandra: "I can park in a space close to home, then there are a couple of parking spaces in the centre of town for shopping and one at the station if I want to take a train. This means I can always find a space and never have trouble parking."

Comm: "With only slight modifications to a peugeot shell an electric motor and nickel cadmium battery supply can be fitted. This assembly line can produce up to 9 cars per day but this depends on demand. The estimated lifetime of an electric car is more than 10 years. The engine requires far less maintenance for example you only need top up the battery with soft water every 10 000 km. On the outside it looks exactly the same as its petrol driven cousin."

Jacques Mollard: "Ah we have electric car in every council department and we also have an electric boat for passengers which is working all day long."

Comm: "The most difficult logistic is making sure there's always a supply of cars in the dedicated parking areas. At the central control room staff monitor the position of the cars moving them if necessary to places where demand is greatest. The moving and maintenance team also ensure that the cars are cleaned and recharged ready for the next customer.

"Experience shows that within the city the drivers average around 30 km a day. So each car only needs recharging once every 2 to 3 days - whenever possible its done overnight as it takes between five and eight hours to charge.

Jacques Mollard: "We try to demonstrate to the city that it could be a good way for the quality of life in our city and for the next century. Later on the fuel cell system will be better. I think the idea we try to share is that today the car is available for use in the city. It is possible to day not tomorrow."

Zambezi, Mozambique - Where There's No Road

Comm: "In many developing countries a lack of transport and poor roads means people spend hours getting to market, school and hospitals.

"In Mozambique the problem has been worsened by civil war. It not only wrecked lives but also destroyed much of Mozambique's infrastructure - in particular the roads which were laced with landmines."

Man: "Last year the brigades started removing the mines from the roads, right here where I am there were mines but the brigades started removing them and that's when we started living."

Comm: "As large numbers of people return to the countryside safe roads are essential to improve peoples lives and invigorate a shattered local economy. Funded by the UK DFID the road project is rehabilitating 840 km of feeder roads.

"The work is done by local contractors who tender to the local authorities to rebuild particular stretches. Unemployment is around 80% and there are few ways other than subsistence farming to earn money. So road building is an important source of extra income.

"Maria Isaura is site manager of one of the new roads and is responsible for each days work.

Maria Isaura: "I'm in charge of the work and that means I have to plan everything from all the activities for the next day, to all the data and writing annual reports and planning. I have120 casual workers of which 103 are men, 17 are women plus another 19 permanent workers."

Comm: "Being labour based doesn't make it less technical. The methods used depend on the kind of soil. Sometimes all that's needed to make an existing road passable is spot improvement. In other cases there's no need for gravel as the soil surface acts as a natural binder.

"Effective drainage is the key to building a long lasting road. One technique is to use culverts in places where excess rainwater may threaten to flood and damage the road. The project aims to encourage women road builders. But it's not easy."

Maria Isaura: "Sometimes husbands forbid women to come and work here so the women are widows or single. Married women rarely come."

Question: "Do women find it harder than men?"

Maria Isaura: "No, Because women have got the same qualities. Anyway women are used to working the land just like men and to collecting the wood from the forest just like men."

Comm: "Wages start at a rate of 1US dollar a day it may not seem much but it has allowed people to save a little money. Some have used it to start up their own business in the roadside markets."

Estrella Gongalves: "I felt good because I was earning money. I worked for three months and I saved money. And then I went and bought goods to sell."

Comm: "The rehabilitated roads help Estrella trade in different places."

Estrella Gongalves: "The roads have improved and that's good and for now we are quite happy because we can travel from Malawi to Kilimane and Macuba."

Comm: "But while the road has made it easier to transport goods to market and get children to school the numbers of people travelling between town and country has also grown. And so has the spread of infectious diseases like HIV.

"Anxious to educate migrant workers about the health risks an outreach programme educates them about safe sex. When asked they are candid about their exploits.

"Mahomare believes that peoples behaviour has changed."

Mahomare: "People are now buying condoms and if they are buying it means they are unlikely to be wasting their money unless they are going to use them."

Comm: "If the road has meant increased levels of HIV infection it also means more people can get treatment from small clinics. Nurses like Floriana Santiella have reported that roads and greater awareness have led to a decrease in sexually transmitted diseases."

Floriana Sentinela: "I think the situation has stabilised because thanks to transportation and the road being in good condition we've been able to talk to people in the locality and the incidence of stds is becoming less frequent and less serious."

Nepal - Generating Currents

Comm: "When `Hands On' first visited Nepal two years ago the polluting diesel tempos - small three wheeler taxis - were threatening peoples' health and tourism. To combat the problem two small fleets of electric tempos were set up by local entrepreneurs. One of these was EVCO featured in series one.

"The programme generated lots of letters from people interested in electric vehicles. It also provoked a reaction from the Nepalese people who were tired of choking on the fumes from the old diesel models fumes and started a protest movement to ban them."

Pushpa Pokhrel: "The `Hands On' programme has helped in banning the diesel tempo in Kathmandu because that was shown several times on the tv because it has influenced the people. People requested the government to ban the diesel tempo. The government listened to the peoples' request and lastly they banned the diesel tempo that credit goes to the `Hands On' programme also."

Comm: "Pushpa isn't alone in thinking the programme had an impact. The environment minister also recognises the value of publicity in helping change public opinion."

Bhakta Bahadur Balayar, Environment Minister: "This Hands On helped us to mobilise this programme we got great support from people even to have a rally, all papers, all media supported us to create awareness."

Comm: "While the programme may have helped ban the diesel vehicles the success of the safa tempos as a business proposition cannot be underestimated. From one small fleet of 10 vehicles two years ago Pushpa's enterprise has increased more than 10 times growing beyond his wildest dreams."

Pushpa Pokhrel: "I have 10 charging stations about 230 people are employed in the charging station and in our company and the total vehicle we have had a 14/30 at present vlying on the road and we had a booking of a 100 or more electric vehicles and we are in the process of manufacturing an additional 40 vehicles which will be vying on the road within 2 months."

(Pushpa Pokhrel runs EVCO as a franchise operation. There are 10 EVCO depots and charging stations in different parts of the city providing over 200 jobs.)

Dick Rai: "I started the business four months ago. Now it's very good. I've 40 person here and I have 21 vehicles."

Comm: "Equally exciting is the prospect of spreading the idea to neighbouring countries."

Pushpa: "We started the electric vehicle business five years ago. We are the pioneer you can say in this region. India companies they took interest in the development of the electric vehicle in Nepal, they visited here, and they started developing in their country also. One of the company is India Ltd the other is Mahinder Mahinder they came to see how Evs are charged, how the components are installed and started to develop in their own country."

Comm: "But are the people happy that the diesel vehicles have gone?"

Vox pop, woman: "It's very nice to get rid of the diesel tempos. It's also good as the air quality has improved but we need more alternatives as people are forced to hang on to overcrowded insides."

Vox pop, boy: "It doesn't pollute as much because it runs by electricity rather than diesel. The diesel used to pollute more but we need more of the electric tempos."

Vox pop, woman: "It's much less suffocating now and less difficult to breathe and there are meant to be other benefits but we don't know what they are. It's really less suffocating."

Comm: "Is there anything else Hands On can do?"

Pushpa Pokrel: "I just want to request you that in Hands On programme you just show this programme several times so that people take more interest in electric vehicles as that will help minimise the air pollution and help our business also."