Launch of World’s 1st Hydrogen Fuel Cell E-Bike

[dodjob]

Just received this in my mailbox
I know, I know.. beware of every "first worldwide" "revolution" etc... but at least, without the facct that they used a cheap chinese frame/batteryundertheseat bike.. it's quite looking awesome
If someone get some real infos and specs this could be interesting
http://www.bike-eu.com/Home/General/2013/5/Launch-of-Worlds-1st-Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell-E-Bike-1269941W/
and a pdf:
http://www.arcolaenergy.com/documents/camden/Fuel-cell bike leaflet.pdf
Gruß,
H.

 

[dogman dan]

I just fail to see the need. A fairly small and light lithium battery now takes most people farther than their ass can stand the saddle.

On a motorcycle, it makes more sense to me. There you have more need for a quick refill.

 

[o00scorpion00o]

Yep seems pointless when Lithium batteries are already more than good enough.

I bet the fuel cell wouldn't be more than a few hundred watts at best ?

The problem is that fuel cells wear out like batteries, at least batteries cost practically nothing to charge and a lot of people have the possibility to charge using their own renewable energy where you will have to buy hydrogen just like petrol and I don't like that idea at all as it will cost many times more than electricity.

Take the new Bosch drive, as it would most likely be the more popular legal choice here in Europe, I see no reason you couldn't get 30 miles with a reasonable amount of peddling, the 8ah battery weight 2.4 kg and easy to fit in a back pack and charge at work if you don't want to pedal as hard, or you want to extend the life of the battery by not fully cycling it. The newer version has a 11ah battery and just 2.6 kg.

Fuel cell bike ? I don't know because even a 48v 20ah ping is more than capable of taking you 35 miles with some steep hills at 15-20 mph if all you want is a long ride on a sunny day just to chill out. Maybe the fuel cell would be lighter ?

Lithium air batteries would wipe out the need for fuel cells, and that day isn't too far off the horizon.

 

[Kingfish]

Questions:

• Can I refill the Hydrogen at home or at a charging station?
• What does the unit weigh, and what is the consumption rate?
• Can I have a personal charger? You know: Fill with tap water, and 8 hours later my tank is filled. Runs off of common household power.

If I could have the same convenience (or encumbrance depending on your point of view) as charging batteries for about the same price point (after sticker shock of investment), then I would consider it.

Really - the best of both worlds is to charge your batteries overnight, and supplement them with power from Hydrogen during the day. If one or both systems could be combined to reduce the overall weight of explicit battery, then it's a win.

But I can't tell from the promotional material the actual value and performance relative to the general gloss.
~KF

 

[speedmd]

There were a few folks showing prototypes of similar bikes 3 - 4 years ago.

A fuel cell would be great as a range extender. You could fill up with fuel and just keep going with a much smaller battery. Hard to say how cheap they can be made now that nano polymers layers have shown to successfully replace platinum in them. Not very complex. They are being used mostly for remote power / backup needs but have seen some phone maker setting up a micro solid oxide one which uses ethanol as fuel source. It runs forever on a squirt. Not sure I would go that route as too much ethanol exposure will cause Breathalyzer failures. Most are better than 50% efficient. Diesel power is less than 25% efficient, gas around 20% for comparison and is how many make power and charge their batteries now. They set the flight endurance record recently using them, so it has the power density and it should not be ignored.
http://beforeitsnews.com/energy/201...evious-flight-record-of-26-hours-2449386.html