Two prominent car makers, Audi and Lexus, unveiled their respective concept cars which are powered by hydrogen fuel cells on Jan. 11 at the 2016 North American International Auto Show, also known as the Detroit Auto Show.

Hydrogen fuel cells are considered by many motoring experts as the best alternative fuel option, compared to hybrid or electric cars. The fuel cells function by converting hydrogen gas into electricity.

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Hydrogen fuel cells also get a big nod from environmental organizations as it only produces water vapor as its by-product.

The technology is still in its early conceptual stage. However, many car manufacturers are already spending huge amounts of money in the research and development of it. Many automakers believe that hydrogen has a big potential of replacing gasoline in powering the cars of the future.

Audi unveiled at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show the Audi H-Tron Quattro, according to Detroit Free Press. The car has two electric motors, one powering the front wheels the other powering the rear wheels. The car's hydrogen tank and fuel cell are situated at the rear part where the engine usually sits.

The hydrogen-powered Audi H-Tron Quattro can accelerate from zero to 100kph in less than seven seconds. Despite negative speculations about the raw power of hydrogen-powered engines, the H-Tron Quattro has a top speed of 200kph.

The interior of the Audi H-Tron Quattro is very futuristic. It sports a virtual cockpit highlighted by the curved OLED screens. It supports LTE connectivity and has a "smart butler" which Audi claims can help in organizing luggage in the car's compartment.

Toyota also took the wraps off its own hydrogen-powered car. Dubbed the Lexus LF-FC, it is the first time the car was presented in front of American audience. The car debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2015, and since then it has stirred waves all throughout the motoring world.

In a statement acquired by PC World, Toyota CEO and president Akio Toyoda said, "Building on our proven fuel cell technologies with this Lexus concept, we hope to achieve a total of zero - zero emissions, zero dependence on oil." Toyota claims that the car should be able to hit the market by 2020.