Hydrogen-Powered Motorcycles Just Around the Corner

[WildBoarMouse]

More amusing than informative...

http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/1447

[Wolf]

About the only useful information I was able to glean from it was that the fuel cell is fairly small and light (surprising) - in other words, "we're getting there..."

Some of the comments led to another interesting site (for all those against silent vehicles such as Electirc vehicles) prompted by the comments of one bloke who thought that cops don't pull over Harleys because they know "noisy pipes save lives" - when we all know that US cops don't pull over Harleys because they're a pack of pussies who're scared the Harley Rider is a gang member with a sawn-off shotgun...

Here's a counter argument to the "loud pipes save lives" debate...

Here

Edit: Rather than hijack this thread, I've created a "LPSL" thread and poll here

[erik]

Cool
I'd be more than happy to ride an electric bike, provided the performance was ok. One of them might be quite good for commuting.

[crazylittleshit]

Leave hydrogen to the commuters.

[Wolf]

Leave hydrogen to the commuters.

Actually, Hydrogen is likely to liberate us from the "commuter" electric - there's a limit to how far batteries will take you, but the hydrogen fuel cell (once properly developed) has the potential to deliver more power than a battery pack and for a lot longer. And "recharging" is quick - as quick as filling your tank. You fill your tank with hydrogen (either pressurised or a few litres of Sodium Borohydride solution for those who fear the "fireball") and away you go. At around Taupo you pull into a servo and gas up with more H2 (literallly "gas" up) or Na Borohydride and head on your way.

At the moment the EVs are slow - limited by the power supply, not the motors. The better the power supplies get, the better the EVs will become - to the point of pissing over Infernal Combustion Engines, I might add. Electric motors have more torque, potentially more power and greater efficiency than any ICE - the only thing that holds EVs back is power supply and they're working on that.

I for one would happily have an electric motorbike - whispering ghost-like along the motorways, no gears to worry about, instant power at the twist of the throttle, no pollution, no noise but the susurration of rubber on road and the rush of wind past the helmet.

[Brains]

Engines aren't really part of my knowledge, however I'm guessing that an electrical engine with no pistons or cranks, would mean optiom power right through the rev range. Is that correct? So the only limiting factor all other things being equal, would be the ECU. Would be quite stange watching a superbike race and no noise thought.

[Wolf]

Engines aren't really part of my knowledge, however I'm guessing that an electrical engine with no pistons or cranks, would mean optiom power right through the rev range. Is that correct? So the only limiting factor all other things being equal, would be the ECU. Would be quite stange watching a superbike race and no noise thought.

They are lethal fast. There have been purpose-built speedsters using heavy batteries - damn-all range but wicked top speed. When they get lightweight, efficient fuel cells to replace the batteries, these things will have speed and range.

Bear in mind - you have one moving part in an electric motor... their life is rated in millions of km, not thousands.

Hmmm, silent superbike race - the skittering of the bike across the track and the fairing coming apart would sound sooooo much louder than it does now.

[mono]

Just need to work out how to strap ten of them together without going nuclear and blowing yourself to the moon.

[Eurygnomes]

Did anyone watch Topgear last night - see the Atom? I WANT ONE (though I think I'd do a stig and wear a helmet - I don't wnat my face all smooshed like Jeremy's was...ick!).

[ZorsT]

Did anyone watch Topgear last night - see the Atom? I WANT ONE (though I think I'd do a stig and wear a helmet - I don't wnat my face all smooshed like Jeremy's was...ick!).

that's slightly different to hydrogen powered motorbikes...

[Jabez]

Probably need another 10yr more development before I would seriously consider one.

[myvice]

Silent and fast... Sounds like a bit of me, I used to go mt'n biking on dusk, zipping along making very little sound you get to see lots of little (and some larger) animals running about. Something very cool about following a Morpork through single track

[Pixie]

Did anyone watch Topgear last night - see the Atom? I WANT ONE (though I think I'd do a stig and wear a helmet - I don't wnat my face all smooshed like Jeremy's was...ick!).

Jeremy's face licked by an invisible dog.

I laughed when Susannah what's-her-name's response to Clarkson's picture of his GT 40 was "You must have an incredibly small penis".

[Wolf]

that's slightly different to hydrogen powered motorbikes...

If Clarkson was in control of it, it can't have anything to do with motorbikes - hydrogen powered or not. I'm assuming it was a ghey, lamer cage with a cock-sucker colour scheme - or at least suddenly looked like it once Clarkson got in...

[XP@]

Ah yup, gimmee a hydro bike!

Silent running... just the sound of the air and whine from the motor.

Maintinence : What would that be like... As long as there is power connected to the motor... she runs.