We received some very impassioned comments back in May when the Obama Administrations cut hydrogen fuel cell funding for research and development. Several readers felt that a huge opportunity for a long-term eco-friendly vehicle solution had been missed.

Well, those same readers will be pleased to know that Senator Byron Dorgan (D) and the Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, which he heads, has overturned the DOE’s initial slashing of the hydrogen fuel cell research budget.

The subcommittee has finished altering the DOE’s 2010 budget to now include $190 million for hydrogen research and development.

So tell us what you think? Waste of money or is hydrogen fuel research that might benefit the proliferation of hydrogen vehicles like the Honda FCX Clarity (pictured above) a good investment for the future?

Tesla Motors has announced the opening of seven new stores in North America and Europe. The first stores to open in June are going to be located in New York, Seattle and Chicago. Soon after another Tesla Motors will be opened in Miami. Tesla also says that it is looking for a number of possible locations in Washington D.C. and Toronto, Canada. As for Europe, Tesla’s first European store will open in London later this month, followed by Munich and Monaco.

“We are rethinking almost every aspect of the automobile – from the powertrain to the customer experience, both online and in our stores,” said Tesla CEO and Product Architect Elon Musk.

The U.S. may have cut funding for hydrogen fuel cell research, but that doesn’t mean that hydrogen powered vehicles are done.

Norway recently finished building its first hydrogen highway. The HyNor project is a 580 stretch from east coast to west starting in Oslo and ending in Stavanger with 12 hydrogen filling stations along the way.

HyNor is apparently the world’s first integrated network of hydrogen pumps and is owned and operated by StatoilHydro. Plans have already been prepared that would see the hydrogen highway extended further into the rest of Scandinavia and, if all goes according to plan, all the way into Germany.

The Norwegian government recently imported the Mazda Hydrogen RX-8 RE (pictured above). Thirty of them actually to be specific. They will be available for lease in Norway this summer.

While the Obama Administration is definitely behind green initiatives and reducing vehicular carbon emissions, they have officially started cutting ties with hydrogen fuel-cell technology in favor of plug-in electric vehicles.

The DOE secretary Steven Chu stated yesterday that hydrogen vehicles are still 10 to 20 years from being practical and consequently the federal government will be dropping millions of dollars of hydrogen fuel cell funding from next year’s budget.

This announcement was in stark contrast to what Chu stated several weeks ago when he announced that $41.9 million for hydrogen projects.

Obviously the latest announcement has ruffled some feathers. The National Hydrogen Association immediately fired off a statement that decries the cuts as stifling to hydrogen fuel cell technology development, which they claim is showing “exceptional promise and beginning to gain market traction.”

A sentiment reflected in the fact that this year’s New York Auto Show named the hydrogen fuel cell powered Honda FCX Clarity (pictured above) was named the World Green Car of the Year.

What do you think? Is hydrogen technology worth investing in or is the Obama Administration right to just focus on electric cars?

Mercedes-Benz is working on an affordable B-Class hydrogen fuel-cell car that will see production, on a small-scale, before the end of 2009.

It is likely that this hydrogen vehicle will at least somewhat based on the BlueZero concept (pictured above) that was revealed to a lot of interest earlier this year at the Detroit Auto Show.

Also, around the same time, Mercedes-Benz plans to build some Smart Fortwo hatchbacks for testing in the e-mobility Berlin project – what they are calling “the largest electric car field test in the world.”

With all the talk about investing in electric and hybrid cars and the necessary infrastructure it’s easy to forget about hydrogen fuel cells.

There are still plenty of hardcore hydrogen proponents and with the Honda FCX Clarity (pictured above) winning the Green Car of the Year Award it’s no wonder.

It also seems the Department of Energy (DOE) has not forgotten about hydrogen powered vehicle either. In what they have described as an effort to lay “the foundation for a green energy eonomy,” the DOE is putting $41.9 million from the Stimulus Bill into hydrogen fuel cell technology. They predict this will lead to an immediate deployment of almost 1,000 new hydrogen fuel cell systems.

Bankrupt auto parts supplier Delphi will make use of a $2.4 million grant allowing for the development of a 3-5kW solid oxide fuel cell auxiliary power unit for class 8 trucks.

While this should help hydrogen fuel cells see more action while creating new jobs hydrogen vehicle proponents might still be a little ticked off that at the relative difference of the $41.9 million for hydrogen compared to the more than $2 billion that is going towards advanced battery research for electric vehicles.

Think an electric vehicle for less than $10k is just a pipe dream? Canadian car company ZENN is offering a deal through the end of June to offer their neighborhood electric LSV vehicles for under $10k.

Now bear in mind, the ZENN LSV isn’t for everyone, as a neighborhood electic vehicle only reaches speeds of 25 mph and is permitted only on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less. However, if you’re looking for something to putz around town in, the ZENN LSV might be just the ticket.

Up until the end of June, combined with tax incentives, EV car buyers can own the $15,995 LSV for only $9,995.

At the New York Auto Show this morning, the Honda FCX Clarity was named the World Green Car.

The list of 22 candidates was made of cars which had at least 10 produced and were either being driven by owners or were operating in test fleets. Among the top vote-getters along with Honda were the Toyota iQ and the Mitsubishi iMiEV.

The FCX Clarity is interestingly enough, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. So that makes for a point for hydrogen vehicles in their eternal battle against electric and hybrid cards for the title of best choice for the future of automotive drive trains.

Where do you think the future lies? It’s a hot topic but we’d love to know where you stand on the battle between hyrdrogen vehicles and electric cars.

Take a look at the new face of awesome. The Mercedes-Benz F-CELL Roadster brings us back to our horse and buggy roots, minus the smelly horses. With a joystick control, fiberglass body and nifty hydrogen-electric fuel-cell power, we can’t help but salivate over how freakin’ cool this thing looks.

The buggy has rid itself of conventional inventions like the steering wheel and instead, uses a joystick. But if you look past the giant, spoked wheels, the buggy contains all of Mercedes top-of-the-line technologies and boasts a carbon fiber and fiberglass body structure, a compact 1.2 kW fuel cell for power generation and – holy schmoly – a top speed of 16 mph. Whoa there, Tiger.

“This project impressively demonstrates that the topic of sustainable mobility has become an integral part of our vocational training,” said Human Resources Board member and Labor Relations Manager Günther Fleig. “I am delighted to see how much initiative and creativity the young people have put into this project.”

The three World Green Car of the Year finalists were announced yesterday and they are: the Toyota iQ, the Mitsubishi iMiEV and the Honda FCX Clarity (pictured above).

The Toyota iQ is a diminutive four-seater. It runs off an impressive 1.0 liter engine that can get up to 67 mpg and has already won its own share of awards, including Japan’s Car of the Year Award.

The Mitsubishi iMiEV is an all-electric vehicle that has boasts outstanding handling and impressive acceleration. This sub-compact electric vehicle has an 85-mile range and a top speed of 80 mph.

The Honda FCX Clarity, is a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle with a 270 mile range on a full tank. Why calculate the range? Because you need to always be in range of one of the few filling stations out there. California, one of the few places to make a concerted effort to establish hydrogen fuel stations, still only has 24 to date. Will hydrogen be able to make the leap to a feasible infrastructure? Who knows, but it sure is tempting considering they run completely emission-free. Yes, I know, generating the hydrogen and running the stations isn’t emission free. If you have a problem with hydrogen fuel-cell cars take it up with the Governator.

Last year’s winner was the BMW 118d – a diesel car that gets 60 mpg. This year’s winner will be chosen on April 9.