A Closer Look at Hydrogen Powered Motorcycles

A Closer Look at Hydrogen Powered Motorcycles

By Maricon Williams

An innovation has recently triggered the riders’ curiosity and scrutiny. This was all about the launching of hydrogen powered motorcycles. These motorcycles are called ENV (pronounced as envy) or emissions neutral vehicle. The speed is 50 mph or 80 km/h at the range of at least 100 miles or 160 km. Said motorcycles can run for four hours before its fuel-cell needs recharging.

Intelligent Energy, maker of ENV, has designed the fuel-cell motorcycle to look simple, clean and user-friendly. Aside from the fact that it is run by a fuel cell called Core, it also produces low sound compared to the rest of the motorcycles. Said Core is detachable from the motorcycle and can be used to power small household properties. The battery pack serves to provide 6 kilowatts of peak load to the motor. With it, motorcycle can tend to become too quiet eliminating the usual excruciating roar. In addition, anti-noise campaigners are welcoming it on the streets. This can open to a whole new experience to all the riders out there. The only drawback though is that said motorcycle can not more or less warn other vehicles or passersby for that matter.

In one of his interviews, Harry Bradbury, chief executive of the bike's British manufacturers Intelligent Energy said, "What we are doing is introducing flexibility into it, so that you can have ambient noise that is tolerable - low-level noise sufficient for safety reasons - but which can be switched off when desired."

ENV is a pollution-free motorcycle. In fact, according to its designers, even its water-vapor emissions are drinkable because they are so clean. With the state’s endeavor to clean up the air, the use of ENV can be a good alternative.

What about the price? The hydrogen fill-up could cost $3. Motorcycle parts are another thing. A prototype of ENV as divulged in London could cost more than $8,300. However, riders are expecting that price will be around $6,000. But expectations may fail. The bike is expected to be open to buyers next year. The expected first’s buyers are probably the nations of China and India where motorcycles are common modes of transportation. However, it is predicted that ENV will not sell much in the United States because Americans view motorcycles as leisure vehicles and not so much for other reasons.

This advancement in technology can bring about major advantage in our environment especially to the attainment of clean air. Aside from the fact that it will reduce air and noise pollution in the streets, it can still be a good source of transportation and adventure.

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