Sure, the revolutionary new bike looks cool and is nearly emission-free, but potential customers point out that it’s too quiet and thus, potentially dangerous:
In fact, powered by a high-pressure hydrogen fuel cell, the recently unveiled bike is about as loud as the fan belt of a PC. Intelligent Energy, the British energy solutions company that built the prototype, is considering developing ways to give it an artificial engine noise so that it can make pedestrians immediately aware of its presence.
Dubbed the Emissions Neutral Vehicle (ENV), the bike derives its power from a briefcase-sized fuel cell unit that is completely detachable. The compact fuel cell is even capable of powering anything from a motorboat to a small house, says the company. The motorbike also relies on a battery pack that provides a 6kW peak load to the motor when accelerating.
Intelligent Energy contracted with well-known designers Seymourpowell to create the lightweight, streamlined and aerodynamic bike, which has no gears. Its top speed is about 50 miles per hour, but with further refinements, it’s expected to top that. The nearly zero-emission hybrid bike can travel for about 100 miles without refueling. “ENV is light, fast and fun,” says Seymourpowell director Nick Talbot. “It has good ground clearance, great off-road suspension travel and a very carefully considered power to weight ratio.” And it’s already been produced in two striking colors: black supergloss and iridescent white.
But it might not appeal to many traditional motorcycle aficionados, who thrill to the roar of the engine and the speed of the ride. “It fits the definition of a motorcycle, but not as we know it,” Jeff Stone, a spokesman for the British Motorcycle Federation, tells Reuters. “The motorcycle is a primitive thing and it appeals to the inner person. The excitement and exhilaration of a bike is why people ride them.” Still, Stone believes the “soft and cuddly” hybrid could serve riders well in city traffic.
But first, a major roadblock must be overcome: there’s only one refueling station in all of Britain that supplies hydrogen.
“The whole point of the project is to say the technology is here, it works, so now put the infrastructure up,” says Talbot.
Sources:
Fuel Cell Motorbike Unveiled, but Too Quiet?
Reuters, March 16, 2005
MSNBC
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7206396/
Intelligent Energy Launches the World’s First Purpose-Built Fuel-Cell Motorbike
March 15, 2005
Fuel Cell Today
www.fuelcelltoday.com
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Noise is a big part of a bikes enjoyment and protection. Screw the fuel cells for bikes. Save them for the Auto Industry.
Mountain biking provides off road enjoyment with minimal noise and my 1100cc BMW is quieter than most vehicles around it, so I can’t understand why noise (or the lack thereof) is a safety concern. The cleaner and quieter the better. I’d ride them!