James May rides the ENV fuel cell motorcycle
Click above to watch the video
It's been a while since we heard anything about the ENV hydrogen fuel cell motorcycle, but it's apparently been featured in a recent episode of James May's Big Ideas. To jog your memory, the ENV was designed by a company called Intelligent Energy, which recently partnered up with Suzuki on its Crosscage concept bike. The Japanese cycle maker has invested in Intelligent Energy in return. Phil Caldwell, director of business development at Intelligent Energy, has said that he hopes the tie up with Suzuki will allow his company to get fuel cell motorcycles on the roads and in the hands of consumers, though there are still nagging issues - like a hydrogen infrastructure - to worry about.
Regardless of its production feasibility, the ENV has a very cool set of features that allow it to stand out from the admittedly uncrowded hydrogen-powered motorcycle realm. For instance, the actual fuel cell stack itself can be removed from the body of the motorcycle and can act as a standalone generator. See the complete video after the break.
[Source: YouTube via The New Cafe Racer Society]
Video:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
HAL 7:28PM (3/03/2009)
No thanks, I'll stick with my ZERO X electric motor cycle.
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Chris 9:03PM (3/03/2009)
Enjoy your low run time. While this hydrogen fuel cell motorcycle can run twice as far as yours and can fill up at any fuel station that has a water/air station. The electric vehicle fan boys make me roll my eyes.
HAL 10:58PM (3/03/2009)
My ZERO X can travel 40 miles on a single charge and churns out 23 HP with 50 lb-ft of torque, while the FC bike whisks along with an modest 8 HP.
Chris: "can fill up at any fuel station that has a water/air station."
Nope, it can-not run on straight water--A major misconception.
The makers say the ENV Fuel cell bike's range is 100 miles on a single tank, but if you haven't paid any attention to the video... The man said there is "No hydrogen infrastructure to speak of."
Although I do know of an H2 fueling station, it is 821 Miles away from my home. So having a 100 mile range FC bike would be meaningless.
With the ZERO X, I can charge anywhere that has an outlet; it only takes 2 hours to charge when flat.
Unfortunately, the ENV FC bike is only a prototype, meant as a showcase for the new INT CORE technology platform. Coupled with the unlikelihood of more H2 filling stations being built, the ENV becomes even more meaningless.
Unlike the ENV, the ZERO X is for sale, and there is a vast electric infrastructure to support it.
Oh, and like the ENV, the battery is easily swappable. If I bought another battery for $2,950. But come on! Don't be such a party-pooper, it's a great bike. I recommend it. :)
By the way,
"You Fool Cell clunker nerds make me laugh!"
Chris: "can fill up at any fuel station that has a water/air station."
LOL.
-M.Dub 11:07PM (3/03/2009)
I do enjoy my electric runtime chris...I recharge at home...where did you say you fill up with hydrogen???
Chris M 3:16AM (3/04/2009)
Unlike that other "chris", I'd never make the mistake of confusing "water" with "hydrogen". It's like the difference between "smoke" and "firewood".
Nope, that bike doesn't run on water, it runs on a very bulky rather expensive gas that must be highly compressed in an expensive high pressure tank.
Not that it matters, as that bike isn't in production, and considering the high cost and poor performance and lack of refueling facilities it is unlikely to ever make it to market.
Doug 8:34PM (3/03/2009)
James May really likes him some HFCVs...
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steve 11:05PM (3/03/2009)
I would stick with your battery bike for now, while this is a running prototype, I am very suspicious of the claimed specs for the bike.
James May claims it makes 8hp. Where does that come from? Its powered by a 1KW fuel cell stack. 1KW only works out at just over 1 hp.
As for claims of 50mph and 100 mile range, from the video it looks like it was struggling to get to 30 mph :(
Then there is the amount of Hydrogen needed to cover that 100 miles. A typical 1KW fuel cell stack consumes around 850 liters of hydrogen per hour under full load - assuming 14L/min from http://www.horizonfuelcell.com/store/h1000.htm
Assuming the bike can achieve 50 mph ( at near max speed and so max power) it would require around 1700 liters of hydrogen to provide that 100 mile range, and that requires a tank of around 7-8 inches diameter by around 16-18 inches long - http://www.fuelcellstore.com/en/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=108&idproduct=1238
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jeff 12:07AM (3/04/2009)
"Water/Air" as an energy source makes me roll my eyes.
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jpm 12:38AM (3/04/2009)
James May is a huge sucker. He lost all credibility when he reviewed the Honda FCX Clarity.
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andrichrose 9:11AM (3/04/2009)
try this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5thFx4hqFQ
jpm 8:11PM (3/04/2009)
i've seen the un-annotated version, but not that one.
James May = TOOL
jeff 12:53AM (3/04/2009)
I like the guy, he's my favourite of the three TG hosts. I just feel like he needs somebody with some sense to sit him down and explain things properly.
Batteries are so simple!! I'm surprised somebody old fashioned like him is a fan of something as complex as a fuel cell!
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andrichrose 9:14AM (3/04/2009)
I don't honestly believe he knows how a fuel cell works, or how
complicated it actually is .
Its just something he has been asked to push on behalf of the
oil companies !
Mariner 7:11AM (3/04/2009)
Considering that May considers himself the most 'techie' of the Top Gear presenters, it is pretty frightening how little he appears to either know or care about the engineering or economic problems associated with hydrogen fuel cells.
Perhaps that is a bit harsh though. I'm sure he just regurgitates what the show's researches tell him and he's just reflecting their ignorance.
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DasBoese 7:28AM (3/04/2009)
I guess like most fuel cell vehicles it has a buffer battery to even out the power load and allow for regenerative braking, that's probably how it can make do with just a 1kW FC stack. It does sound very little for sustaining top speed for longer times though.
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DasBoese 7:45AM (3/04/2009)
that was meant as a reply to steve.
Intelligent Energy... intelligent my ass, if they were intelligent they'd have thrown out the hydrogen hardware, crammed a few kWh of Li-Ion goodness in there and would be making money selling hot little electric commuter bikes instead of relying on Suzuki's generosity.
jeff 10:52AM (3/04/2009)
Ya you'd need a hell of a buffer if the fuel cell is only 1kW, so much so that the bike would essentially become an electric bike with a FC range extender. Something's not right here with the numbers. Either that fuel cell is more powerful or that bike is real slow. A hair drier is more like 1.5kW.
Morgan 12:57PM (3/10/2009)
What about killacycle or Vogelblit , but there aer faster electric motorbikes James I am still a litte angry with you over the whole TESLA test thing , in that "will make the eletric car irrevlent" Volts Veliocity Victory
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