DailyTech - Intelligent Design Showcases Fuel Cell Motorcycle

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Gadgets Intelligent Design Showcases Fuel Cell Motorcycle
Brandon Hill (Blog) - February 2, 2006 11:20 AM

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30 comment(s) - last by THEREALJMAN73.. on Feb 3 at 2:24 PM

Intelligent Design ENV - Courtesy MobileMag

Intelligent Design's ENV fuel cell motorcycle is capable of speeds up to 50MPH

Hydrogen fuel cell technology is seen as the next logical step in automotive propulsion following today's current craze with gasoline/hybrid powered vehicles (i.e. Prius, Insight and RX400h). A British company, Intelligent Design, used the Tokyo Fuel Cell Expo as a showcase for their new fuel cell powered motorcycle.

The Intelligent Energy fuel cell is completely detachable from the bike, is radically compact and efficient and is capable of powering anything from a motorboat to the electricity for a small home...On a full tank, the ENV can be used continuously for up to four hours without refuelling.

The motorcycle is capable of on-road and off-road operation at speeds of up to 50MPH. And for the environmentalists out there, the motorcycle is nearly emissions free.

The ENV will be available within the next year and a half for a price of under $10,000.

More here.

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Still costs too much to make

By Lyman42 on 2/2/2006 12:52:01 PM , Rating: 2

The current state of creating hydrgen requires more energy to be put in than what the hydrogen puts out. Hydrogen is created by reacting natural gas with steam, or coal with steam. Both of these reforming methods create carbon dioxide (which is said to be linked to global warming). Splitting oxygen could be used for creating hydrogen, but this zero free emissions method I think is currently more costly than natural gas or coal.

RE: Still costs too much to make

By Lyman42 on 2/2/2006 12:53:55 PM , Rating: 2

I meant splitting water not oxygen :)

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RE: Still costs too much to make

By The Cheeba on 2/2/2006 9:59:52 PM , Rating: 2

Good thing - we are having trouble splitting Helium sans thermonuclear explosion.

Cheeb.

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RE: Still costs too much to make

By TWags on 2/2/2006 1:25:48 PM , Rating: 2

But that's why there's a bunch of research such as using genetically modified cyanobacteria to use solar energy to break down the water in a localized tank that could be stored on a vehicle. That way you also get rid of the possible hazards involved with storing large amounts of hydrogen at nearly every intersection...

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RE: Still costs too much to make

By Antimatter on 2/2/2006 2:13:40 PM , Rating: 2

While this is true right now, it (hopefully) will not be true forever. It's good to see advancement in the use of hydrogen even if the creation of it is not quite advanced enough yet. When it gets there we'll be ready to go.

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RE: Still costs too much to make

By mxzrider2 on 2/2/2006 10:47:43 PM , Rating: 2

not really as all it takes to seperate water is to put electricty through it

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pirst fost...

By Eris23007 on 2/2/2006 12:21:23 PM , Rating: 3

Whats the fuel source? Pure hydrogen, or is it another fuel that is converted to hydrogen for processing in the cell?

...call me crazy but I'm not exactly psyched about the notion of a big ol' bottle of highly-pressurized hydrogen sitting between my legs. BOOM!

RE: pirst fost...

By BPB on 2/2/2006 12:33:06 PM , Rating: 2

Cue the tasteless replies....

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RE: pirst fost...

By Scrogneugneu on 2/2/2006 12:33:10 PM , Rating: 3

Yeah, much better to have a tank of inexplosive fuel... oh, wait.

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RE: pirst fost...

By sevendust62 on 2/2/2006 2:45:47 PM , Rating: 3

It should be noted that the hydrogen fuels involve hydrogen stored in as an element in a non-explosive compound. Usually, if I remember correctly, the hydrogen gas is extracted as the engine needs it, so that the only hydrogen in explosive form is the hydrogen being used at that exact moment.

In any case, rest assured that the scientists and engineers are well aware of the explosiveness of hydrogen. They aren't stupid, and besides, if they get their ways, they'll eventually be driving those same cars, so they'll make them safe even if only for their own sakes.

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Honestly

By NuroMancer on 2/2/2006 12:18:01 PM , Rating: 2

I've never understood why they make prototypes look so useless/wierd, and at least to me, unappealing. If thats where bikes are going I don't want one.

RE: Honestly

By kmmatney on 2/3/2006 12:38:31 AM , Rating: 2

comfy seat...

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RE: Honestly

By tauron on 2/3/2006 10:58:20 AM , Rating: 2

to me, the design is very tempting...

better than many bikes already on the market.

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RE: Honestly

By THEREALJMAN73 on 2/3/2006 2:24:54 PM , Rating: 2

I think that bike looks hawt.

I would ride it.

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Think Green

By mofo3k on 2/2/2006 5:26:02 PM , Rating: 2

Pretty much the only thing keeping me from buying a motorcycle is the terrible environmental effect. It's more fuel efficient and it'd be nice to be out in the open air, but current motorbikes put out WAY toom many emissions. That's the reason I don't have a gas lawnmower. I think they're even worse(mowing your lawn is like driving over 90 miles).

RE: Think Green

By Omega215D on 2/2/2006 8:05:03 PM , Rating: 2

I seriously hope you didn't buy into that biased Swiss study on motorcycle emissions. You are correct if comparing cycles from HD or 2000 and prior jap bikes. I just purchased a 2006 Kawasaki 750S that meets one of the most stringent emissions regulations in Europe. "Way too many" is a bit extreme in either case.

I may sound a bit defensive but with bad reputations like this going around eventually I'll have to get rid of my bike and go into debt just maintaining a car and the insurance.

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RE: Think Green

By yanman on 2/3/2006 12:38:44 AM , Rating: 2

what holds *me* back is the woeful standard of drivers around here that make riding bikes a serious health hazard.

surely current bikes are more fuel efficient than cars?

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RE: Think Green

By THEREALJMAN73 on 2/3/2006 2:23:57 PM , Rating: 2

I think you are thinking of two-stroke engine equiped bikes and lawnmowers. They burn a mix of gas and oil and do indeed polute heavily.
Your typical four-stroke bike engine I am sure polutes much less than your typical car.

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lame

By sadffffff on 2/2/2006 3:53:15 PM , Rating: 2

fuel cells are an awfull idea. get back to the drawing boards

RE: lame

By Zirconium on 2/2/2006 3:57:07 PM , Rating: 2

Perhaps you have some constructive criticism? Or are you an armchair engineer/scientist? If you think that fuel cells are an awful idea, then you should come up with a better one and make loads of money.

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RE: lame

By sadffffff on 2/2/2006 4:03:43 PM , Rating: 2

fuel cells use hydrogen.
hydrogen is explosive.
there are no hydrogen deposits for which to get it.
hydrogen is HIGHLY reactive.
artificially refining hydrogen is expensive and uses fossil fuels anyway.
and its ineficient.

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RE: lame

By User1001 on 2/2/2006 4:13:56 PM , Rating: 1

actually it is fairly simple(simple from an industrial standpoint not the individual consumer) to modify algea to produce hydrogen instead of oxygen.

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Just a thought

By nomagic on 2/2/2006 5:13:37 PM , Rating: 2

What is the middle east going to do when fuel cells get popular? Isn't selling oil the primary source of income?

I mean, what else do they export? India and China are famous for exporting cheap labor. South East Asia (Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia) exports a lot of electronics such as LCD monitor, motherboard, sound card... America exports a lot of new technology and some weapon. Russia exports a lot of weapon.

If demand for gasoline drops, then price will drop, too. Therefore, they wont be making as much money...

RE: Just a thought

By yanman on 2/3/2006 12:36:48 AM , Rating: 2

take a look at what the emirate of Dubai is doing to plan ahead - spending their oil money on infrastructure and technology so that they are ready for when that day comes

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RE: Just a thought

By Scrogneugneu on 2/3/2006 12:47:31 AM , Rating: 2

Not mentionning paying inventors and constructors for not building those hydrogen cars too early...

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Intelligent Design?

By The Cheeba on 2/2/2006 2:54:51 PM , Rating: 3

I thought this was going to be an article about evolution --- who the hell names their company Intelligent Design?

Cheeb.

RE: Intelligent Design?

By Slaimus on 2/2/2006 6:14:40 PM , Rating: 2

Select a controversial name to get people's attention
Or
Take the name literally

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Innovation

By goku on 2/2/2006 3:12:52 PM , Rating: 2

I think it's interesting that the only reason people will upgrade to something is if it's cheaper, safer, last longer despite the fact that these innovations could be added at eventually the same cost as using gas for our cars, despite the fact that it's good for the environment and you'd be getting a tax break, people just won't budge.. Soon as these vehicles (cars) become commerically available and provide similar mileage, I'll be on the bandwagon, helping propel this into the next century..