|
Hydrogen Powered
Motorcycles
|
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.
|