Professor Scott Samuelsen, director of the National Fuel Cell Research Center at UC Irvine, envisions this as a reality that's 40 years away. By then, he expects most people will use hydrogen as fuel.

Samuelsen's research center is experimenting on three fuel-cell SUVs through a partnership with Toyota. It also has a hydrogen refueling station at Campus Drive and Jamboree Road.

Toyota isn't the only one working here. General Motors is working on fuel-cell technology in Lake Forest with Quantum Technologies.

GM and Shell have agreed to set up five hydrogen refueling stations, including one in California.

Samuelsen says he expects some manufacturers to have a fuel-cell vehicle ready for a few select consumers to purchase within five years. Those early adopters would be similar to the handful of car buyers who snapped up the first hybrids in the late 1990s.

Price for one of the first fuel-cell vehicles? The industry estimate is $50,000.

Samuelsen -- who teaches, leads cutting-edge research and brings together businesses, researchers and legislators on alternative-fuel issues -- says the work being done in Orange County is important because everyone is watching how stations and vehicles are developed here.

"The rest of the world will follow California's lead," he says.