Is There A Hydrogen-Powered Motorcycle In Your Future?
Fans of high powered motorcycles have not always seen eye to eye with environmentalists, due to opposing views towards pollution and the use of high octane fuel. However, these two rather disparate groups may soon be coming together and singing off the same eco-hymn sheet in the future. The reason for this change of heart is due to the hydrogen-powered motorcycles that could soon be heading up the highways with some considerable speed and style.
Society Impact
Both Suzuki and the environmental groups are hoping that these new bikes will appeal to existing and future bikers alike. If the designs and reactions of the 2005 and 2007 fuel-cell bikes are anything to go by, they will have nothing to worry about on that score.
Either way, if you are planning to look into getting one of these you are going to want to insure them with Green thinking insurance companies such as The Green Insurance Company. who launched back in 2007 and therefore are very much a fitting choice for the Green enthusiast.
History Lesson
Back in 2005, a London based product design consultancy helped to develop and produce what was the world’s first fuel-cell powered motorbike. Intelligent Energy/Seymourpowell unleashed the ENV bike and this sleekly elegant device certainly had the whole world talking about the possibilities that this innovative beast could bring to our lives. Not only did the ENV look like something from the 22 nd century, but it offered a solution to the evergreen engine/pollution dilemma we have been facing for decades.
In 2007, Suzuki developed their own fuel-cell powered bike, and the Crosscage was an immediate rival for the ENV in many ways. The hydrogen based superbike had both the looks and the eco-capabilities of the British model down pat and with the might of the Japanese motorbike giant right behind the Crosscage, you would only bet on one winner here.
Well, despite what you may have thought about this seemingly one-sided fight, the results were somewhat shocking for all concerned. Suzuki and Intelligent Energy/Seymourpowell have actually joined forces in order to create a fuel-cell powered motorbike that is going to change the world, or at least part of it. The new Crosscage bike will be revealed at the end of February, and the word on the street is that this bad boy is going to be a real beauty.
The actual shape and spec of the Suzuki/Intelligent Energy effort are understandably under wraps and we can only speculate about the finished article.
So how exactly will the new motorbike’s engine manage to power the bike without creating a big fat carbon footprint at the same time? The fuel-cell based power plant works by producing water and electricity from hydrogen and oxygen. The science behind this modern day miracle is way too technical for us but we do know that the new Suzuki bike will have far more oomph than the early prototype Crosscage could ever muster.
Future success?
Just cast your minds back to when electric cars made their somewhat tenuous entrance into the four wheeled world of transport. The press and public were hardly enamored with the prospect of these rather pedestrian paced products. Look around today, and you’ll see plenty of electric cars driving around.
So the sexy looking Crosscage should certainly be just as successful, if not more so by comparison.
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