Two American engineering students have created a hydrogen bike prototype, comparing the efficiency of three different types of engines: an internal combustion engine, a fuel cell electric engine and the hydrogen engine.

Alex Bell and Andres Pacheco developed their project at the Swarthmore College, using a Buell Cyclone motorcycle with a modified chassis and rear suspension that would have been originally fitted to the twin cylinder engine.

The combustion cell is a Ballard, 1.2 Kw (1.6hp) and the electric engine was built in Italy by CFR in Modena. The hydrogen is stored chemically in two cylinders called Ergenics, and is released via a heating process.

No gas is brought to high pressure, and the initial efficiency of the engine is estimated at 50 percent, which is not bad for two young guys building their own prototype. Enjoy the very quiet test runs in the video, while we contemplate if this will be the future of motorcycling.

Source | TreeHugger

(no votes)

1 comment