First hydrogen powered canal cruise boat in Amsterdam

Today was the presentation of the first zero-emission, hydrogen powered canal cruise boat in Amsterdam.

The boat, called the Nemo H2, has been designed to run on hydrogen and does not produce any exhaust gases (except water), smell or noise.

In the boat's engine hydrogen and oxygen react to form water and electricity, which is used to move the boat. The hydrogen needed is produced by a windmill park in the North Sea, so the entire energy consumption of the boat is environmentally friendly.

Canal boat cruises are amongst the most popular tourist activities. Most boats are glass top, flat boats (like on the picture below). They are frequently criticized because of the noise and smell they produce.

The hydrogen boat will be operated by the company Lovers, from the spring of 2010. Lovers expects to get more of these boats in the future.