Electric vehicles are all the rage these days, and manufacturers continue to push the boundaries of design and engineering to achieve more efficient and faster-charging machines. While fast-charging technology has indeed come a long way in recent years, hydrogen is yet another potential gold mine for people looking to recharge quickly while driving a zero-emission vehicle.
Although we’ve previously talked about hydrogen internal combustion engines, such as those being developed by Yamaha and Toyota, what we’re looking at today is a hydrogen-powered electric motorcycle (think Toyota Mirai and other hydrogen-powered electric vehicles). Developed by a group of German-Czech collaborators, the aptly named Hydrocycle concept hopes to reshape the future of the two-wheeled mobility world
The Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology, or simply Fraunhofer IWU, is one of the main driving forces behind this project. In its official press release, it explains that one kilogram of compressed hydrogen is normally enough to power a car for 99.7 km. Due to its compact nature, hydrogen has great potential for smaller vehicles such as scooters and motorcycles. That said, the task is by no means simple, as a motorcycle with a hydrogen fuel cell electric propulsion system will need an on-board system that converts the hydrogen into electrical energy. Naturally, these systems can be quite heavy.
However, the group is determined to develop a working prototype that meets European standards by 2025 at the latest. The organization states that the prototype can be driven and will be developed to cater primarily for the city mobility scenario. This means that industrial segments, such as home deliveries, are at the heart of the project, with the ultimate goal being CO2-neutral mobility and a reduction in noise emissions.
Fraunhofer IWU explains how the project will be carried out by the working group. On the one hand, Czech organizations such as the design house 1to1design, the Czech Technical University and the research and development company ÚJV Řež will work together to develop the platform for the new bike. On the other hand, German companies such as Fraunhofer IWU and WätaSwärmetauscher Sachsen GmbH will focus on the engine and transmission, more specifically the fuel cell stack and electric motor that will power the bike.
Overall, the Hydrocycle project could translate into great results not only for the European motorcycle industry, but also for the rest of the world. The European Union has launched a hydrogen strategy in the hope that the big H will play a more important role in general mobility as early as 2030. In short, it’s in line with the EU’s ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.