Suzuki and Intelligent Energy only one year of releasing fuel cell motorcycles?
Suzuki Crosscage - Click above for an image gallery
It's been a little while since we last heard from Suzuki regarding its planned hydrogen fuel cell motorcycle, but apparently the Japanese company has been hard at work getting the machine ready for production. According to Ivar Kvadsheim over at MC24.no, teams from both Suzuki and Intelligent Energy were present at the EVS24 event in Stavanger, Norway, with their fuel cell-powered machines.
Over the last few years, Intelligent Energy has reportedly managed to increase the output of its fuel cell from 1 kW to 1.8 kW, and both its ENV bike and Suzuki Crosscage will use this same power source. That's great, but the real issue holding up production is the bike's hydrogen storage tank. It seems the two companies were planning to use a tank from BMW, but later found out that unit was only approved for automotive use and couldn't be legally used in a motorcycle.
Dennis Hayter from Intelligent Energy expects the storage tank issue to be worked out within the next four months and for both bikes to hit the market in less than a year with a price of around 8,000 euros ($11,200 at current exchange rates). Range with a full tank of hydrogen will be around 160 miles. After the successful introduction of these two machines, the two companies plan to begin working on a hydrogen-powered version of the Suzuki Burgman scooter.
UPDATE: Our Norwegian needs a bit of help. We got the following email from Ivar:
You've done a good job translating my norwegian story :)
There are a couple of detalis that needs correcting, though. Intelligent Energy was at the EVS24 showing their fuel cells, but none of the bikes and no Suzuki-team.
The ENV and Crosscage use the same fuell cell and motor, so they're both waiting for the same hydrogen tank.
The fuel cell on the picture of Payter is the one they're using for the ENV/Crosscage. In addition to increasing the output the cell is also lighter than the "first edition".
Gallery: Suzuki Crosscage in Action
[Source: MC24.no]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Stew 7:33PM (5/23/2009)
I wonder what kind of range it would have if they dumped everything associated with the fuel cell and put more battery capacity in it?
Reply
jake 9:08PM (5/23/2009)
Range will likely suffer if you switched to batteries since hydrogen is still more energy dense. It doesn't cost much more to have a hydrogen bike with more range, since all you need is a bigger tank, which doesn't cost that much more. And the hydrogen bike is probably going to be a lot lighter for a given range.
What hydrogen has a disadvantage in is if you wanted to add more power, since the power is a function of the size of the fuel cell. For example, the Zero S that goes for a little less has a 31hp motor vs this one's 8hp motor, but the Zero S's range is much lower at 60 miles vs 160 miles (it may partly be due to the more powerful motor though).
Both are expensive for their markets, but with this hydrogen bike having only a 8hp motor, it's more like a moped, whereas the Zero S has power at least on par with it's supermoto segment.
Chris M 9:27PM (5/23/2009)
H2 may be more energy dense by weight, but the energy density by volume leaves much to be desired. The result is it must be either highly compressed, which means very expensive carbon fiber tanks (steel won't do) or cryogenically chilled to liquify it and store it in very expensive dewar tanks, where it still will boil away, or store it absorbed in metal hydrides which is the most expensive and adds considerable weight.
No, using extra batteries would take less space and would probably be less expensive.
Snowdog 8:14PM (5/23/2009)
1.8 KW? That is like 2.5 HP. Seems like barely adequate for a bicycle.
Reply
meme 9:26PM (5/23/2009)
Go, Speed Racer, Go!
Fuel cell prices are per watt, not per watt hour like batteries. With how much fuel cells cost, there's no way they could have it be both remotely affordable and have remotely acceptable performance.
cWj 9:29PM (5/23/2009)
So I'm not the only one. I was thinking I must've RtFA'd wrong.
Chris M 9:35PM (5/23/2009)
LOL! It looks so very very macho, but has less power than the average scooter! Somehow, I think test drivers would be very disappointed. Maybe they'll try to sell it mail-order without any test drives.
Of course, they could add more batteries, thus increasing available power, but then the obvious question is: Why bother with the fuel cell at all?
Of course, with the limited number of H2 fueling stations, the marketing area would be severely limited
jharlan 10:29PM (5/23/2009)
Right, Chris, an $11K+ 8 hp moped, that's what we all want! The pain in the
rear of having no place to refuel + being passed on hills by 8 year olds on
tricycles! I would like to see a case study on the folks that buy
this thing. I'll bet they are all vegetarians!
I drive a Suzuki Burgman 400 and it gets 60 to 70 MPG, will go 90
MPH, is water cooled, is California smogged, and I can refuel
anywhere, It sells for $6995.
Reply
downtoearth 1:51PM (5/24/2009)
Don't worry, they'll be waiting for hydrogen storage tanks until 2019.
Autobloggreen will publish a million posts about hydrogen tricycle "coming soon!" in the meantime.