German auto giant Volkswagen and Tongji University will initiate a joint research project, aiming to develop a car that runs on hydrogen and emits only water.

The two partners, together with another German engineering company IAV GmbH (Ingeniergesellschaft Auto und Verkehr), signed a cooperative memorandum in Shanghai Tuesday.

Based on Volkswagen's Touran electric auto, the project will try to use China-made fuel piles and high-octane batteries and optimize relevant control systems for energy distribution to suit Chinese road conditions.

The assembly of model cars, function examination and road test will abide by the international standard as well as the national standards of China.

Volkswagen has been researching clean energy automotive engine systems on its own. Cooperation with Tongji University will enhance the company's cooperation with China in the exploration of environment-friendly and energy-saving cars, said Ruderisch, general manager of the exploration department of electric and fuel-cell autos of Volkswagen.

Tongji University President Wan Gang, also chief scientist of the electric auto project under China's hi-tech research and development program 863 Plan, spoke highly of the cooperation. He said that the development project is greatly supported by the government.

Volkswagen (China) and Tongji University have always maintained sound cooperation. The two sides established the Volkswagen-Tongji Automobile Research Institute in 2000.

(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2004)