Finally, a real FC vehicle?

Fri, 14 Jan 2005 09:06:19 -0800

It is about time for an ecologically sound transportation vehicle to hit the market in mass production. The Prius was a giant step, but even at 50+ mpg it still burns way too much gasoline for some eco-conscious consumer/commuters (yes, although a distinct minority, there are a few out there, even in the culture of super-size-it, SUV-loving, multi-polluting, cell-phone-bonded, natural-resource guzzlers.)
 
This slick 2-wheeler is coming out soon - not in 2005, unfortunately - 
but they claim to be tooling up the factory now (have we heard that before?):
 
there are many other sites with more detail.
 
The good news:
 
1) They are tooling up for a 2006 introduction
2) It is not a cheesy slapped-together kludge
3) It is well-thought out and looks great
4) 150 mile range
5) plenty of speed
6) Longer battery life - Deep discharge cycles minimized by the fuel cell "trickle"
7) emission free (except for the remote power plant supplying the grid)
 
The "not clear" news (potentially bad)
 
1) the fuel cell is  the Protonex NGen 500 watt fuel cell system with Vectrix's high performance battery-powered electric maxi-scooter. The fuel cell is said to double the range of the scooter. But 500 watts ??? That is not much more than a human can deliver by peddling and this vehicle is comparatively heavy. Is there a huge advantage over an improved electric bike (Wavecrest, etc) ? 
2) projected cost is high; will probably be $10 k when delivered
3) Where are you going to refuel with H2?
 
The bad news
1) Not all-weather
2) Should be a methanol FC (or have a reformer) instead of H2 for flexibility
3) Cost
4) Cost
5) Cost
 
The fuel cell / electric hybrid configuration does provide synergy by using the best aspects of the individual technologies. The battery pack provides most of the power while the fuel cell provides a continuous "trickle charge" to keep the batteries "topped-off", greatly extending the range of the scooter (and battery life). The fuel cell shuts down automatically when the battery pack is charged and operates at only its optimum efficiency. Fuel cells are not nearly as efficient when stressed to the max. When you stop at a traffic light the batteries keep getting charged, etc. There is also regeneration from braking.

All-in-all, the most apt summation that one can provide for this product is *long overdue* but...
 
... from the perspective of someone who would like have the option of pedaling...after all, if it is going to be used in good weather only, why not pedal when you get the urge?... it would be great to see a souped up combination of the Wavecrest or other nicely designed electric bicycle with this:
which looks a little kludgey.
 
Although Keith may be partially correct that most Americans do not give a damn about energy efficiency or ecology, as long as they can afford the cost of polluting, I think that is an overstatement. Perhaps 10 to 20 percent of all commuters, maybe more, do care. Many are even activists- if you don't believe that, try driving in SF on the designated bike days - even the cabs go nowhere.
 
This all is indicative of a neglected market worth pursuing, as the success of the Prius has stunned Detroit. (some would say the success is modest, but it is the *trend* which is important - with 6 month waiting lists in Cal, it is said to be the only such auto with a "real" waiting list since the Miyata).
 
...but if the transportation option you propose to introduce is going to be basically a "fair weather" option, then it cannot cost $10 K, because it will never be suitable for the only vehicle which one must own. Almost every younger "aware" person that you hear expressing opinions in new groups, seems to agree that they would spend a few thousand for a fair-weather transportation, hybrid-battery option (with a fuel-cell for extended mileage), battery power for hills, ALSO self-powered capability - but ... if there is no H2 readily available for convenient refills, then it MUST be a methanol or other liquid fuel option. These Vetrix guys must have missed 'Marketing 101'.
 
BTW this company PalCan just opened a new plant in China, so don't be surprised to see a Canadian designed, Chinese built triple-hybrid bicycle (battery, methanol fuel-cell, human power).
 
This might be the first real test in the transportation marketplace to see how adept and quick the Chinese are at identifying markets, and getting there the "first-est with the most-est"... What nation on earth needs this kind of product more than China - for their own people?
 
Jones

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