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Hydrogen Cars Come to Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - Hydrogen-powered cars on a nationwide tour of 18 states are making stops in Chattanooga and Smyrna for public test drives.

Chattanooga is still rejoicing in its selection by Volkswagen as the site of a new assembly plant that itself is expected to create 2,000 jobs.

Nissan has an assembly plant at Smyrna.

Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp told several hundred people at the Monday morning stop in Chattanooga that they should tell their children to "get fired up" about the vehicles they are going to be driving in the future.

Hydrogen vehicles made by Volkswagen, Nissan, BMW, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai-Kia and Toyota and are taking part in the two-week, cross-country event.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Center for Energy, Transportation and the Environment was host for the stop in Chattanooga.

As a part of the Chattanooga tour drivers got a chance to get behind the wheel of these vehicles that experts say are easy to drive.

"There is no learning curve," says Volkswagen Project Manager John Tillman, "drivers get in the car, they turn the key and they go."

Volkswagen hopes to produce its hydrogen-powered vehicle in the next seven to ten years. Standards and regulations will have to be created before fueling stations can be created across the country which will allow automakers to proceed with production.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)