E-bikes are powered by electricity, right? Not always it seems. German company, Linde, has produced a hydrogen-powered e-bike with a 100km range and a recharge time of just a few minutes.
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Why hydrogen?
Linde touts a few reasons to choose hydrogen over electricity, the first being a quicker recharge time. Most e-bikes require an overnight charge or frequent plug ins to keep the battery range topped off. Linde claims that a depleted hydrogen tank can be refilled in a few minutes.
The other big reason has to do with the batteries utilized by an electric-based motor. The mining of elements and the disposal of large batteries adds to the environmental impact of normal e-bikes Linde states.
Plus, the heat exchanger on the bike can keep your hands warm on colder rides, according to Linde.
Where do you fill up?
This is the big question, especially in the US. Per Linde's website there are more than 220 hydrogen refilling stations globally. Bikes are a minuscule part of the Linde company, its main businesses are as a global supplier of industrial, process and speciality gases.
Linde H2 bike stats
- Bicycle Total weight of bike 23.6 kg
- Maximum speed in electric mode 25 km/h
- Motor power 250 w
- Frame: material Aluminium
- Tyres Schwalbe Big Ben, 26" x 2.15
- Rims :Sun Ringle Single Track 26“
- H₂ system Weight of fuel cell system 3.7 kg
- Storage capacity 33 gr H₂, corresponding to 1,000 Wh Range per cylinder filling > 100 km
- Fuelling time 1– 6 min
- Fuel cell lifetime 5 years
- Fuel cell efficiency 50%
No pricing or availability was provided or whether or not the bike will be available in all markets.
Linde's H2 e-bike isn't the first to run on hydrogen, that would go to Pragma Industries' Alter e-bike back in 2013. Are hydrogen-powered e-bikes the new, newest wave of the future, or like hydrogen cars, nothing more than a quirky idea with good intentions?