Boost investment in fuel cell technology-Canada

: "VANCOUVER (CP)--Canadians won't be driving hydrogen fuel-cell cars anytime soon but they could take a spin in a forklift using the leading-edge power source, one of the industry's advocates says.
The president of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Canada told the Commons finance committee's pre-budget hearing Tuesday there are commercially available fuel-cell products but the sector needs more government help to keep its lead against growing competition from the U.S., Japan, China and Korea.
``We are the leaders but we are not alone,'' said John Tak, head of the 75-member industry association.
Member companies have invested an average $200 million annually in research and development over the last five years, $290 million in 2004, Tak told the committee.
``The entire energy sector is spending about $650 million,'' he said. ``This small group of companies is investing a third of Canada's energy R & D.''
Governments have contributed about $100 million of the $1 billion spent in the last five years, he said _ a ratio of one to 10. But measured over the last 15 years, public support for fuel-cell research has amounted to only about three cents of every dollar that the private sector invests.
By contrast, said Tak, the biotechnology sector gets $1.20-$1.30 for every private dollar.
Fuel cells produce electricity by chemically converting hydrogen, with water and heat as the only byproducts when pure hydrogen is used.
Proponents see them as a way of reducing dependence on fossil fuels, although most hydrogen today comes from natural gas, and cutting greenhouse-gas emissions.
After a flurry of optimism in the late 1990s that zero-emission fuel-cell cars were just around the corner, the industry has dipped below the public radar.
``They're s"