World's First Fuel-Cell Motorcycle

Alex writes "Rubber Magazine reports that the British company Intelligent Energy has unveiled today the first purpose-built, fuel-cell motorbike. The bike has a 6kW (8 hp) electric motor, top speed of 50 mph (80kph), a range of 100 miles (160km). The engine is completely silent, which might not go well with many motorcycle lovers. In addition it could also possibly pose an interesting safety issue, since a pedestrian or motorist would not hear it coming."

Comments

moto myths

[tedtimmons]

Myths:

• Not all motorcycles are made by Harley.
• Not all motorcycles are cruisers or sportbikes.
• Not all motorcyclists like loud pipes.

-ted, motorcycling geek

Re:moto myths

[temojen]

here you go

As a motorcycle owner

[bruciferofbrm]

I have always wanted a quiter bike. I do not like the loud 'like at me' rumble (which may exceed legal limits in many places) that some riders seem to like.

Now my 250cc Rebel (my firts bike) puts out 15 HP. So, an 8 HP bike might be a bit weeny for highway cruising, but this sounds like a great city bike.

In terms of noise again, bicycles and even Segways make no (or very little) noise. Its not the pedestrian who has an issue. Its the driver.

If its licensed like a standard Gas powered bike, then the driver knows the rules on riding and should not be endangering anyone.

I applaud this and all the other cool alternative fuel bikes. My little bike gets 70 mpg, and my biggest get 35 mpg. Not bad compared to most cars people actually drive, but they still add to the pollutiuon level none the less.

Re:Meh

[agm]

Depends on the bike. Neither of mine are particularly fuel efficient. My VL1500 gets about 170km to 13 liters, and my DR-Z400 gets about 100km to 11 litres.

Re:SF ENVy?

[JimmehAH]

It has a battery pack to provide 6KW to the motor when accelerating.

Another Fool Cell

[CasaDelGato]

Wow, a Fuel Cell ($$$$) bike that has almost caught up with a pure Electric vehicle. Except that it's top speed is lower, it costs more to build, and is far more difficult to refuel. Yup, Fuel Cells are the future! The only reason Fuel Cells are being pushed so hard is that they retain the Big Company infrastructure needed to use them. You will need a large distribution network if you want to refuel lots of cars, AND you will need to produce all that hyrdrogen - which will likely be made from oil. EV's can do it now at lower cost than Fool Cells, but for some reason are being ignored. (Or actively discouraged - like GM crushing the quite nice EV1's.)

Re:Another Fool Cell

[CasaDelGato]

Sorry, power plants have MUCH better exhaust scrubbers than cars do. I'm not near my references right now, but last I checked, the Well-to-Wheel efficiency of an EV was around 70mpg. Of course the Fool Cell vehicle will be considerably worse - which is what we are comparing to here - not ICE cars. Plus, there ARE other sources of electricity than oil. Admittedly, you do have to get used to a quiet vehicle and not changing the oil, and not stopping at gas stations.

says who ?

[C0vardeAn0nim0]

my 125cc honda XLR (check http://www.honda.com.br/ is a retired bike but they have a similar replacement) make 210km on 7 liters of gasoline, 30 km/l it weighs 110 kg (dry). with me + oil and fuel is about 185 kg. 30 km/l with a 12.5 hp engine at constant 80 km/h moving 180 kg, take note.

my statio wagon is a 1200 kg volkswagen parati with a 1800cc engine produces 90 hp and at 80 km/h it does... 12 km/l.

an engine 14 times bigger only needs twice the fuel to move a car 7 times the weight of the motorcicle.

things get worse as the motorcicle engine gets bigger. a honda CB-400 with a 400cc engine does 15 km/l a CBR-7500 spends more than my car.

whos "pretty damn fuel efficient" now ?

Re:Watch me Not Care (TM)

[EulerX07]

Oh really! How interesting. Allow me to reference a few passage of the Hurt report for our readers' pleasure.

14. Conspicuity of the motorcycle is a critical factor in the multiple vehicle accidents, and accident involvement is significantly reduced by the use of motorcycle headlamps (on in daylight) and the wearing of high visibility yellow, orange or bright red jackets.
18. Conspicuity of the motorcycle is most critical for the frontal surfaces of the motorcycle and rider.

I have a hunching feeling that even though you say you use straight pipes to get noticed, you care too much about looking like Jesse James to wear a high-visibility vest and actually protecting yourself as a rider. Also, your comment about having wind blow by your ears make me think you're one of those yahoos riding without an helmet (keep doing it, i'm fine with darwinism at work).

So in conclusion, you ride a loud bike to look like a badass and try to impress others, not for your safety. That is all.

Re:Watch me Not Care (TM)

[Cycon]

I bet if your stupid ass rode a bike you would have loud pipes as well. We have loud pipe so idiots much as yourself can damn sure hear us comming. I cannot tell you how many times I have narrowly escaped serious injury or death because somebody turned in front of me or ran me off the frigging road while changing lanes.

You're way off. My ride's a GSX1200, stock pipes. The bike can pull 0-60 in 2.9 seconds, but its quiet enough to slip up behind someone at a crosswalk without their noticing from a meter away (when parking on the sidewalk and re-entering traffic).

Problems with people changing lanes and not seeing you won't be fixed by louder volume - hell, you could wear a day-glo yellow reflective vest and still be missed. The only solution is to drive like everyone is constantly out to kill you.

Its easier to fit into blindspots on bikes, and quite frankly people with cranked-up stereos who are speeding along trying to weave in and out of traffic are the ones that are going to nail you anyway .. they won't hear you no matter way. You're just doing damange to your ears.