Visitors to the gas
technology exhibition examine the newly unveiled hydrogen fuel-cell
bike yesterday.
A concept bike driven by an environmentally clean hydrogen fuel
cell was unveiled at an international fair in Shanghai yesterday,
with the local producer promising to extend its patented
technologies to more pollution-free products.
Shanghai Pearl Hydrogen Power Source Technology Co showed its
fuel-cell bike at the 9th China International Exhibition on Gas
Technology, Equipment and Applications which kicked off yesterday
at Shanghaimart.
The company officials said the model had just been completed
late last month and they had already received some inquiries and
trial orders from interested buyers overseas.
"Most of the buyers at present are individuals keen on clean
energy applications," said Tian Binglun, the company's general
manager.
"The innovative bike also attracted the attention of many
visitors to the fair today," Tian said.
A battery tank and a pair of hydrogen gas bottles make up the
energy system for the bike, making it different in appearance from
other electric bikes widely used in Shanghai.
"As is widely known, hydrogen has become a major source of clean
energy, together with wind and solar power. With hydrogen gas, the
battery produces power to drive the bike without producing harmful
fumes but only a bit of water," Tian explained.
The hydrogen bike also has some other advantages over normal
electric bikes.
It only takes about 30 minutes to refill the gas bottles.
However, it takes at least three hours to recharge the lead battery
in common electric bikes, he said.
The energy system, including the battery tank and gas bottles,
is also only about half the weight of the battery on normal
electric bikes.
"We could also make the battery system lighter by using
different materials to make the tank."
The bike costs about 20,000 yuan (US$2,632), but that could be
reduced to about 4,000 yuan after mass production, making the price
more comparable with electric bikes.
With two full gas bottles, the bike could be expected to
complete a trip of 100 kilometers at a speed of 25 kilometers an
hour.
The producer said the company expects interested partners to use
its core patented technologies on more vehicles, such as motorbikes
and golf carts.
But future owners of the bike have to order the gas refills from
local suppliers.
"Hydrogen gas is not supplied through a network, unlike
gasoline, but we could provide a list of designated gas suppliers
in future," said Tian.
(Shanghai Daily September 6, 2007)
