Water-fuel car unveiled

With oil prices soaring and fuel protests spreading across the globe it almost sounds too good to be true - a car that runs on nothing but water.

And all kinds of water will do, river, rain or sea, they all make this car mobile - even tea works!

Japanese company Genepax unveiled the eco-friendly vehicle in Osaka.

Once water is poured into the car's tank, an energy generator takes hydrogen from the water, releasing electrons that power the car.

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) KIYOSHI HIRASAWA, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF GENEPAX, SAYING:

"The main characteristic of this car is that no external input is needed. The car will continue to run as long as you have a bottle of water inside for you to add from time to time."

According to Genepax a litre of water will keep the car running at a speed of 80 kilometers for around an hour.

The company hopes to go into mass production with a Japanese manufacturer.

With car users around the world looking for alternative fuels to power their vehicles Genepax may well have the solution they've been looking for.

Michelle Carlile-Alkhouri, Reuters

poured v. poured, pour·ing, pours

v.tr.

1. To make (a liquid or granular solid) stream or flow, as from a container.

2. To send forth, produce, express, or utter copiously, as if in a stream or flood: poured money into the project; poured out my inner thoughts.

v.intr.

1. To stream or flow continuously or profusely.

2. To rain hard or heavily.

3. To pass or proceed in large numbers or quantity: Students poured into the auditorium.

4. To serve a beverage, such as tea or coffee, to a gathering: We need someone to pour.