REPORT: Suzuki to put hydrogen two-wheelers into production
Suzuki fuel cell concepts at the Tokyo Motor Show - Click above for high-res image gallery
Suzuki and Intelligent Energy have been working on hydrogen fuel cell-powered two-wheelers for the last few years, with the Crosscage, their first public concept, debuting back in 2007 at the Tokyo Motor Show. Then, earlier this year, we heard rumblings that Suzuki hoped to have its first production hydrogen cycle ready within the next 12 months.
Falling right in line with those expectations, Suzuki unveiled a new concept just last week at the most recent show in Tokyo, and instead of using a pie-in-the-sky motorcycle chassis with single-sided suspension bits that have little chance of actual production, the Japanese company placed its proprietary fuel cell and storage system in a regular old Burgman scooter.
Now, Wired reports that we can expect these hydrogen two-wheelers in production in very short order. Says Dr. Henri Winand, CEO of Intelligent Energy, "These clean fuel cell engine-powered motorcycles are not simply for motor shows, and can be widely available to everyone in the near future."
If that does indeed take place, as cool as the Crosscage may be, we'd expect the initial offering to take a form similar to the conceptual Burgman scooter. We'll know for sure soon enough.
[Source: Wired]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ivor.pdx 11:47AM (10/31/2009)
Where is Suzuki suggesting we fill up our scoots? I suppose a home (solar fueled?) electrolyzer might be affordable for such a low energy vehicle?
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Chris M 12:33AM (11/01/2009)
But the equivalent electric scooter would be much cheaper, get better performance, and use just 1/3 as much electricity. That in turn means 1/3 as many solar panels. Also, storage batteries, a power inverter and electrical outlet costs a heck of a lot less than a water electrolyzer and high pressure H2 gas compressor and high pressure H2 tanks and a high pressure H2 nozzle.
wincros 12:34PM (10/31/2009)
How is it possible? To believe some contributors here a fuel cell car costs a minimum of a million bucks. One would have to conclude this scooter will cost at least a quarter million. Suzuki is not a start up company. So I think it will make it to market and be affordable. Solving the fuel problem will be the more interesting news.
What is also interesting to me is that Honda who has repeatedly downplayed EVs in favor of fuel cell has committed to a battery electric motorcycle. The ferment is getting interesting.
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jake 4:37PM (10/31/2009)
Hydrogen fuel cell cost depends on power output. Intelligent Energy's last promised hydrogen motorcycle (the ENV) had a 1.2 kW (1.6hp) PEM fuel cell. A typical car will have a ~100kW (134hp) PEM fuel cell (for example the Clarity). So that is ~100x the cost. Minumum $250k/100 = $2500; the ENV is estimated to start at $6000, $6000*100=$600k for a car. 1.6hp is equivalent to about a $500 50cc scooter.
For batteries, cost depends more on range, since batteries have much better power density than fuel cells (which is why on many fuel cell vehicles you see li-ion batteries, for example on the ENV and the Clarity).
On the article:
Whatever happened to the ENV fuel cell motorcycle? I think it was made by Intelligent Energy Too.
Chris M 12:25AM (11/01/2009)
Yep, H2 PEM fuel cell costs about $4 per watt, which means a 100 Kw fuel cell costs $400,000. Now, if they went with a dinky little 1,200 watt fuel cell, that would only be $4,800. but that would only produce 1 1/2 hp. The high pressure H2 storage tanks would be almost as costly, even for a modest range. Combined with enough batteries to boost peak power, it might achieve a barely acceptable performance, but at a far too high price tag.
Considering the high purchase cost, high cost of fuel and lack of refueling outlets, I really doubt either this or the ENV will ever go into production. Battery electric scooters and motorcycles are much more practical, being more affordable and running on a cheaper "fuel" that is available almost everywhere.
letstakeawalk 10:35AM (11/01/2009)
The article is misleading. Suzuki hasn't announced that the FC Burgman will go into production.
"Dr. Henri Winand, CEO of Intelligent Energy, "These clean fuel cell engine-powered motorcycles are not simply for motor shows, and can be widely available to everyone in the near future.""
There's a difference.
I am a fuel cell enthusiast, but there is still so development required to bring down costs, just like it's taken since the late-19th century to develop practical BEVs. I don't think it will take 100 years like batteries did, but most OEMs are talking around 2015, so we shall have to wait and see.
jpm 3:34PM (10/31/2009)
DOA..... no where to fill up.
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Mark Kiernan 5:29PM (10/31/2009)
I am sure ExxonMobile is working on a way to fix that problem.
Chris M 12:27AM (11/01/2009)
Yep, Exxon Mobil and Shell and the other Oil companies are hard at work - lobbying to get the government to pay all the costs, so they don't have to.
letstakeawalk 11:04AM (11/01/2009)
HTEC is providing part of the hydrogen fuel to be used at the Vancouver Olympics. They've developed a process to purify waste hydrogen from chemical plants. This gas would otherwise just be vented into the atmosphere.
http://www.htec.ca/
http://www.sacre-davey.com/presentation/GeneralPresentation.pdf
While the oil companies will play a role providing natural gas to be reformed into hydrogen, one of the reasons why it is desirable as an energy carrier is that it can be created from many different sources, minimizing our reliance on one specific resource or another.
Serge 11:27AM (11/02/2009)
Interestingly, ExxonMobil's PR site (http://media.exxonmobil.com/media/microsite/index1.html) breaks with idiocy surrounding hydrogen fuel cells and extols *on-board reformation of hydrocarbons* as the way to power the fuelcellmobile of the future.
xyz 12:06AM (11/01/2009)
Some good advice: You keep on spaming this board and one of the members here might have a really close look at your website. Then you might wish never to have been here, buddy.
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carforallnet.blogspot.com 12:21PM (11/01/2009)
But the equivalent electric scooter would be much cheaper, get better performance, and use just 1/3 as much electricity. That in turn means 1/3 as many solar panels. Also, storage batteries, a power inverter and electrical outlet costs a heck of a lot less than a water electrolyzer and high pressure H2 gas compressor and high pressure H2 tanks and a high pressure H2 nozzle.
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