YOU might not have heard of it, and its full title is quite a mouthful, but EVS22, which has just ended in Yokohama, Japan, is now one of the world's most important motor gatherings.

EVS22 - or the 22nd International Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition, in full - is where all electric vehicles, equipment and associated research, education, and future proposed policies came together to showcase the very latest ideas in environmentally-friendly transport.

The fact that this event has been going since 1969 - the inaugural symposium was at Phoenix, Arizona - is a revealing insight to the perceived importance, even back then, of alternative-fuel vehicles, but many manufacturers have been developing greener forms of transport for much longer than that.

Nissan, for instance, showcased its full range of electric vehicles at EVS22, but the firm's development of electric vehicles dates back to its first electric car, the Tama EV, which was built in 1947. Today, Nissan continues to explore various long-term sustainable technologies, including the promotion of three main types of vehicle - electric-powered, fuel cell, and hybrid electric - that will have a positive impact on both the climate and future generations of motorists.

The firm's headliner at EVS22 was the X-Trail fuel cell vehicle, the FCV 2005. This is fitted with a larger-than-usual hydrogen storage cylinder, which increases the vehicle's range to around 300 miles. Most global car giants now have fuel cell vehicles under test, but it's interesting to note that the technology has its roots right here in Britain.

Scientist Sir William Robert Grove was experimenting way back in 1839 with electrolysis, but looking at a reversal of the process that uses electricity split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Thus British scientist Sir William came up with the prototype fuel cell, but it wasn't until some 50 years later that the actual term fuel cell was used by other scientists who took Grove's work further. Sadly, the rapid growth of the internal combustion engine saw the fuel cell idea largely shelved, and it wasn't until the end of the 1950s that a practical fuel cell was developed - after years of research at Cambridge University.

From the 1960s through to the present day has seen the fuel cell evolve into what looks set to be the petrol engine's ultimate replacement.

All-electric vehicles look to have an important future, too, and Nissan was the first car maker to release the world's first lithium-ion battery powered vehicle, back in 1996.

Nissan says that the challenge now lies in developing more technological breakthroughs that could make the electric vehicle into a viable, practical daily-use option for drivers.

Alongside the firm's X-Trail FCV 2005 at EVS22, Nissan also showcased the Tama Electric Car, of 1947 vintage, which had a top speed of just over 20mph, and could cover around 35 miles on a full battery charge.

Nissan's Hypermini was also on display - this is an ultra-small electric two-seater, designed specifically for city commuters. Its top speed is 60mph, and can travel 70 miles when fully charged.

The fourth vehicle in Nissan's line-up was the Micro UV, an ultra-small electric vehicle is fitted with an active interface technology to benefit elderly drivers, whose slower response-times may impair driving capability.