The Microcab could be tested in theme parks

The car, named Microcab, is powered by a hydrogen cell and has been unveiled as an environmentally-friendly solution to inner-city motoring.

John Jostins, from Coventry University, has worked on the ultra-light, taxi-style vehicle for eight years.

Holding four people and with a top speed of 30mph, he hopes it could solve the cost and harmful emissions of oil.

"My passion is developing alternative fuels to reduce noisy pollution and improve air quality in cities," he said.

With the scare over oil shortages and rising petrol costs it's definitely a question of when, not if, we need to find alternative fuels John Jostins, Microcab creator

"Microcab is completely silent and its only emission is water vapour."

Mr Jostins, a senior lecturer in design and digital media, said he hopes to run a series of pilot schemes around the country to help him refine the design.

"How it takes off from there depends on whether petrol stations begin to offer hydrogen on their forecourts," he said.

"But with the scare over oil shortages and rising petrol costs it's definitely a question of when, not if, we need to find alternative fuels."

The fuel cell has been developed by Loughborough University while the car has been designed and built by Mr Jostins in collaboration with Coventry University's commercial arm.