History is filled with fierce rivalries and battles for technological supremacy. Edison’s direct present versus Nicola Tesla’s alternating present, Beta versus VHS or Microsoft versus Apple exemplified completely different visions of the long run. In the case of mobility, the battle is going down between electrical batteries and hydrogen cells. For now, electrical energy is profitable the day, however hydrogen is way from having thrown within the towel as a inexperienced energy supply. One instance is the revolutionary hydrogen bicycle designed by a Dutch firm in collaboration with an Australian hydrogen cell producer.
In this text, we’ll handle these factors:
What is a hydrogen bicycle?
One of the drawbacks of electrical batteries is their low power-to-weight ratio. That is, the vitality they produce per kilo is decrease than different methods akin to combustion engines. In a automotive, this ratio is appropriate, however in different instances, akin to aviation, electrical motors could solely be used for brief routes.
In the case of bicycles and mopeds, this power-to-weight ratio means a decreased vary that limits them primarily to city environments. The LAVO Bike gives an alternate. Instead of a lithium battery, it depends on a hydrogen gas cell with decrease weight and better energy. The hydrogen cell converts this gasoline into electrical energy with excessive effectivity. So a lot in order that, due to its energy of 40 kW/hour, a tank of 1.2 kg permits a visit of just about 100 and eighty miles.
However, it isn’t the world’s first hydrogen bike. That honor goes to the Alpha bikes used on the 2019 G7 summit in France. The marketed vary of this mannequin was over 100 miles, with a recharge time beneath two minutes.
How precisely does it work?
Returning to the LAVO Bike, it’s a hydrogen cargo bike consisting of the next options:
- Modular design: all elements may be simply assembled and disassembled.
- Hydrogen tank: a conveyable and refillable cylindrical half.
- Fuel cell: converts hydrogen into electrical energy.
- Hydrogen manufacturing: home system powered by photovoltaic vitality.
The final element can be utilized as a storage resolution for renewable vitality from photo voltaic panels. The builders declare that this expertise may energy a home for 2 days.
In addition to providing a mobility different to cyclists, the LAVO Bike has been designed as a automobile with sufficient energy to move small hundreds, which might make it an glorious ally for supply corporations. For now, it’s a prototype scheduled for launch in 2022, however it will not be unrealistic to consider related hydrogen bikes on metropolis streets within the subsequent few years. Especially if hydrogen stations turn into a standard sight.
Factors akin to refueling pace, excessive vary and 0 carbon footprint may effectively tip the stability of their favor.
Why is it extra sustainable?
As famous, this bike depends on inexperienced hydrogen from electrolysis powered by renewable vitality. Compared to lithium batteries, hydrogen batteries don’t require uncommon minerals or heavy metals. In addition, the combustion of hydrogen generates solely water, not less than within the case of gas cells. It ought to be famous that hydrogen can be utilized in two methods as a gas:
- Conventional combustion engines: hydrogen replaces gasoline or kerosene. Water vapor and small quantities of nitrous oxides and residual carbon dioxide are launched, as a result of using lubricating oils and components.
- Hydrogen gas cells: hydrogen fuels an electrochemical response and produces electrical energy. Only water vapor is launched.
In addition, to know the inexperienced credentials of hydrogen, it’s mandatory to contemplate its shade coding. In this text we clarify the variations between blue, grey and inexperienced hydrogen. Of the three, inexperienced hydrogen is essentially the most environmentally pleasant, as electrolysis is carried out with renewable vitality. This sort of hydrogen is anticipated to turn into commercially worthwhile inside the subsequent decade. Who is aware of if by then this vitality supply, pushed by tasks such because the hydrogen bicycle, will prevail within the combat for extra sustainable mobility. After all, as Airbus engineers remind us, the primary inner combustion engines within the early nineteenth century used hydrogen as an alternative of petrol.
Sources: Dezeen, Airbus, https://studiomom.nl/en/tasks/lavo-bike