Energy unveiled its new ENV (Emissions Neutral Vehicle) prototype fuel-cell motorcycle yesterday in London.
The ENV bike is based around Intelligent Energy’s 1 kW CORE fuel cell. To improve performance during spikes in power demand (i.e., acceleration), the fuel cell is hybridized with a lead acid battery pack to provide 6kW peak load to the motor.
"When it came to designing the casing for the CORE", commented
Nick Talbot, "we treated it as a standalone project, giving this radical fuel
cell its due as a beautiful, valuable and useful energy resource. The CORE,
which can be detached completely from the bike, is therefore designed to create
interest as an enigmatic object. Although mostly encased in identical
aluminum
to the bike, of which it at first seems a completely integral part, the CORE is
also part-covered on one plane in a micro-etched, textured and durable shell, in
a pattern derived from brain coral. The pattern alludes to the fact that this is
solid state technology but is also functional, in that the intricate patterns
also disperse heat. We wanted this to be a finer and more beautiful object than,
say, a diesel generator - and to make people look again at this new technology
with a sense of wonder." The CORE is completely detachable from the bike, and is capable of powering anything from a motorboat to a small domestic property.
The bike has a top speed of 50 mph and a projected range of at least 100 miles (160 km). Acceleration is leisurely: 0–30 mph in 7.3 seconds, 0–50 mph in 12.1 seconds.
The bike’s primary frame and swinging arm are made from hollow-cast aircraft grade aluminum.
"People soon will be able to use a bike like ENV, leaving work in the city, then driving to the countryside, detaching the CORE and re-attaching it to another vehicle, such as a motorboat, before using it to power a log cabin. The very same fuel cell then could be re-charged from a mini hydrogen creator, the size of a shoebox," said Intelligent Energy's Chief Executive Officer Dr. Harry Bradbury. "The launch of ENV breaks new ground and opens an entire new field of opportunities for low- and high-power fuel cell motorbikes."
Bradbury said the company's vision of complete electrical self-sustainability is particularly compelling for remote communities and especially for the developing world, where large grids are not economically viable and where fuel cells offer both easy portability and power delivery at the point of consumption, with no loss of efficiency.
ENV is lightweight, streamlined and aerodynamic, with a performance that Bradbury said exceeds any existing electrical bike. In an urban or off-road environment, it can reach speeds of 50 mph. It also is virtually silent, with noise emissions equivalent to an everyday home computer, and its emissions are almost completely clean. On a full tank, the ENV bike could be used continually for up to four hours without the need for re-fuelling. The bike has no gears and is strictly defined as a motorbike, although it feels to riders more like a very quick and responsive mountain bike.
Key Components of the Bike Power System
- Motor - 6kW, 48 VDC Brush motor (model LEM-170, supplied by LMC)
- Motor Controller - Brusa Direct Current (model MD 206)
- Fuel Cell - 1kW Intelligent Energy air-cooled (2 x AC32-48)
- Hydrogen Storage - High pressure carbon composite cylinder (Luxfer L65)
- Hydrogen Energy - 2.4kWehStorage Battery - 4 x 12V Lead Acid (15Ahr) connected in series
Performance Data
- Acceleration - 0 20 mph in 4.3s (32kph), 0 30 mph in 7.3s (48 kph), 0 50 mph in 12.1s (80kph)
- Top speed - 50 mph (80kph) (note: ENV has been tested to 50mph however, with further refinements and redevelopments, this top speed is expected to be exceeded)
- Range - At least 100 miles (160km)
Physical
- Bike mass - 80 kg (Total mass including CORE)
Fuel
- Hydrogen - 99.9% purity
- Oxygen - Taken from air
- Hydrogen refuel time less than 5 minutes
Interface
- Electrical connection - Multi-core (Intelligent Energy specific)
