Segway-Ninebot is building a hydrogen fuel cell sports bike and plans to sell it at a fantastic price. The ultra-futuristic-looking motorcycle – called the Apex H2 – sports a hydrogen-electric hybrid powertrain that runs on gaseous hydrogen stored in tanks.
The hydrogen fuel is converted into electrical energy through a fuel cell. The electricity generated is fed into a buffer battery that powers an electric motor linked to the rear wheel. The exhaust port emits only water vapor.
The Apex H2 can reach a top speed of150 km/h (~90 mph) with its 60 kW (80 hp) and can go 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in under four seconds. It’s not the fastest two-wheeler on the street, but the insanely low price makes up for that. It costs only CN¥69,999 (~US$10,700)!
The hydrogen canisters will be made exchangeable like a CO2 soda maker. Stores and refilling stations can sell replacement cartridges. However, a hydrogen infrastructure of any kind lacks as of yet. Which begs the question, why make a hydrogen motorcycle, and could such a vehicle really take off?
At the moment, batteries reign supreme in the passenger car market, but they’re inadequate for other types of vehicles. For example, long-haul electric aviation and shipping vehicles need energy storage systems that can carry more electrons. For such big machinery, hydrogen could be ideal.
And in the case of motorcycles, which are on the other side of the size spectrum, hydrogen poses two advantages over batteries:
- H2 offers far higher energy density than lithium batteries
- It takes as long to fill up a tank with H2 (or swap out the cartridge) as a standard gasoline tank (provided there’s a hydrogen station nearby).
On the other hand, battery-electric motorcycles tend to run out of power faster than a tank of gas is used up, leaving the rider to have to sit around waiting for it to charge up. That’s why e-motorcycles aren’t suitable for sports and pleasure riding.
But hydrogen could be a suitable alternative and prove handy in the decarbonization of the sports and touring motorcycle markets.
Segway’s pioneering vehicle is scheduled to begin deliveries in 2023.
