Hydrogen Motorcycles

Have you ever had a motorcycle sneak up on you in traffic? The answer is probably a resounding no. While the motorcycle may be one of the cheaper forms of transportation these days in regards to fuel, they have never been known for their stealth. But, guess what? There is a new kid in town and its name is the hydrogen motorcycle.

Intelligent Energy

Convert Your Car To Burn WATER Boost Mileage 60% and laugh at high gasoline costs while reducing emissions. Alternative Energy Secrets A step-by-step guide to creating alternative fuels for your car. Renewable Energy Solutions Find free solar panels, wind turbines and batteries for off-grid living.

While hydrogen motorcycles have not been around long, the concept of hydrogen as an alternative fuel source has. (Think NASA) A British energy company called Intelligent Energy has a hydrogen fueled ENV motorcycle prototype almost ready for the consumer market.

ENV stands for Emissions Neutral Vehicle and hydrogen motorcycles definitely qualify. Do you know why? The by-product of a hydrogen motorcycle is water. There are no pollutants that can harm the environment.

Intelligent Energy's ENV prototype does not look like your typical motorcycle. It is sleek and compact without all of those exhaust pipes. Just think of a large mountain bike on futuristic steroids. It is not known for its speed, only up to about 50 miles per hour, so it is perfect for driving around metropolitan and suburban areas. These hydrogen motorcycles can travel about 100 miles before a refuel is needed.

There is one problem on the horizon for these pollutant-free, efficient hydrogen motorcycles and that is the lack of fueling stations. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles marketed to the public is still in its infancy. Therefore, you are not likely going to be able to tool down to your nearest corner station and fill up with more hydrogen. However, plans are underway to increase the number of these hydrogen fueling stations.

The very thing that makes hydrogen motorcycles so appealing to the environmentally conscious is also a cause for concern. The lack of emissions is a tremendous asset to cutting down pollutants but by the same token, some people feel that the quiet engine is a potential hazard. With the motorcycles that run on fossil fuels, you can hear them in traffic and know they are there. With hydrogen motorcycles, they could sneak up on you without your knowledge. That is why Intelligent Energy is looking into a device that can produce the sound of a motorcycle engine that can be switched on and off.

While there may not be a huge market at first for these hydrogen motorcycles, Intelligent Energy and other companies like Aprilia (hydrogen scooters) and Honda are continuing their research and work on these hydrogen vehicles. Before you know it, hydrogen fueling stations will be more commonplace and more hydrogen motorcycles and other vehicles will be ruling the roads.