On Yer Hydrogen Bike
by Tony Bosworth, Sydney, Australia on 05.20.07
We all know pedal power can make you fitter but if you opt for this hydrogen-powered bike you could also be making the planet a lot fitter too.
Developed by UK-based Valeswood Environmental Technology Development (VETD), the Hydrocell Bike is on sale now, powered by a lightweight hydrogen fuel cell placed behind the seat and able to send you on your green way for 60 miles.
The Hydrocell power unit is available in three different sizes, producing between 14 to 156 volts individually or up to 220 volts when used as part of a power pack. The Hydrocell holds 40 liters of hydrogen.
Hydrocell is a lightweight, rechargeable hydrogen fuel cell with an internal metal hydride store. It's not as expensive as most other hydrogen systems because the battery pack is alkaline-based rather than based on the more normal - and expensive - platinum core.
Hydrocell runs on either standard commercial grade hydrogen gas which is inexpensive and which VETD says is easily available (though we've yet to see any...) and also on environmentally friendly green hydrogen. The bike has a range of around 60 miles on one fill-up. After that it's back to your calve muscles, or you try and find a hydrogen source.
As with all such hydrogen systems, the hydrogen mixes with oxygen from the atmosphere to create electricity and only produces a small amount of water vapour.
The makers claim Hydrocell is very easy to fill and use and operates at room temperature, which in fairness should be something you need to consider if you live somewhere like Alaska or the further reaches of the Gobi desert.
The price in the UK is 700 pounds sterling, so around US$1,400.
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I have had information from Waleswood that the fuel cel bike costs 3000 uk punds, actually..
This is exactly what we need for alternative transportation!
Hydrogen fuel cells tend to be cheapest to produce when they are smaller systems, and a bicycle definitely won't have the massive power requirements that a normal automobile will require. This means smaller storage tanks, which apparently is one of the largest engineering challenges for hydrogen.
Since the energy demands of fueling little bicycles is likewise going to be much smaller scale than converting every car in the world to the fuel, the energy needed to make the hydrgoen (assuming water electrolysis) would probably be doable if your house had a PV system on the roof.
I'd definitely like to get a H2 bike to help defeat the brutal hills in my city! But only if it was completely green.
How is a Hydrogen cell better for the planet than a regular pedal powered bike?
"How is a Hydrogen cell better for the planet than a regular pedal powered bike?"
It's not, but it's better than cars and such and easier to do long distances than with a pedal bike.
Transportation Alternatives’ Tour de Brooklyn!
When: Sunday June 3rd, Registration 8 am – Rain or Shine
Where: Start/ Finish Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Park
What: Bicycle tour featuring historic Brooklyn neighborhoods, parks and waterfronts.
Who: cyclists of all ages and skill levels
Info: www.tourdebrooklyn.org, call 212-629-8080
Cost: Free but on-line registration required
Bike Brooklyn’s Best 3rd Annual Tour de Brooklyn
This year’s tour gets underway at Grand Army Plaza, a National Historic Landmark at Prospect Park. This year’s 18 mile tour will feature Brooklyn’s southern neighborhoods along the waterfront like Sunset, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and Bensonhurst and loops towards the heart of Brooklyn, Kensington and Prospect Park South to end at the Carousel.
If this is your first time to Brooklyn by bike don’t worry you can join our feeder ride, leaving from Cadman Plaza near Brooklyn Bridge. Ride will depart promptly at 7:45 am, arriving at Prospect Park 8:05 am. Safety Marshals will be provided to guide you to the GAP.
This is a family friendly ride at a leisurely pace, escorted by the police and safety marshals. There will be one rest stop along the way where you can take a break, stretch your legs and snack on some food.
Bicycling in New York City has grown by leaps and bounds, there are over 120,000 daily cyclists today, up just 75,000 1992. There are over 36,000 daily cyclists in Brooklyn alone, plus thousands more who bike for fun on the weekends. Transportation Alternatives has been instrumental in winning new bike lanes, improved bridge access, and safe parking for NYC cyclists.
Bicycling in New York City has grown by leaps and bounds, there are over 120,000 daily cyclists today, up just 75,000 1992. There are over 36,000 daily cyclists in Brooklyn alone, plus thousands more who bike for fun on the weekends. Transportation Alternatives has been instrumental in winning new bike lanes, improved bridge access, and safe parking for NYC cyclists.
Transportation Alternatives – 127 W. 26th Street, New York, NY 10001 – (212) 629-8080
How fast can it go though?