Partnering with private companies and universities, the funding will be divided across four projects, three of which are transportation-based, as part of the Obama Administration’s aims to make the United States a leading market for hydrogen fuel cells.

The two largest projects are based in Georgia and Tennessee, each of which will receive a $3m (£1.8m) investment from the DoE.

In Atlanta, the funding will allow the Centre for Transportation and the Environment in Atlanta is to develop a walk-in delivery van and retrofit 13 California-based UPS delivery vehicles with hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain, aided by the University of Texas.

FedEx Express, in Memphis, will work with Plug Power and Smith Electric Vehicles to deploy a fleet of 20 hydrogen fuel cell delivery vehicles in Tennessee and California.

Pennsylvania-based Air Products and Chemicals will receive $900,000 (£544,000) of DoE funding to develop a delivery truck capable of handling high pressure hydrogen, due for real-world trials at refuelling stations in Southern California.

A further $250,000 (£151,000) funding will be provided to Kansas-based Sprint, to develop a hydrogen fuel cell backup power system for rooftop telecommunication systems which can be refuelled from the ground.

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said: ‘Reduced oil dependence is an important part of President Obama’s energy security and climate plans, and hydrogen and fuel cell technologies will help ensure America’s continued leadership in clean energy innovation.’