The Future of Motorcycles?

[houk]

Does it come in a v-twin model?

[mydlyfkryzis]

Ooh, no pollution.....

Uh, do you know how to make the hydrogen that is used in this?

Guess what, you need either nuclear energy or fossil fuel generators to make H2 in quantities that are meaningful. Or, you can get H2 from natural gas or petroleum (oil). Defeats the purpose if you use oil to get H2, don't you think.

Also, storing the H2 is problematic in that you can't compress it enough and have a small enough tank for any significant range. And while you can use catalysts and various salts to store hydrogen in a solid form, it creates its own problems as the chemicals are not environmentally friendly either.

It is inefficient too, as it takes more than an equivalent gallon of gas in energy to produce enough hydorgen that would equal a gallon of gas in energy.

Fuel cells are interesting, and have a lot of uses. But the fuel for them is not easy to come by and I don't believe they can free us of using oil. They have some uses, but energy conservation is not one of them.

I work in a division of United Technologies and have some good sources of information as UT is in the sales and production of fuel cells for commercial and automotive use. The Cells work, but the fuel issue is what is holding up the works. Our best technology right now uses natural gas as a hydrogen source. Not a good way to end our dependence on fossil fuel.

[oldnslo]

I bet future bikes have sound systems to make them sound like bikes. It is hard to imagine a hydrogen fuel cell or electric power plant producing anything like a traditional bike sound. May not have cylinders, but will have speakers and amp. All sound and no substance.

[Toyuzu]

Might be kinda wierd to have that sound without the vibes, too. Maybe there will be little vibrators in the grips, footpegs and seat so it feels more like the old dino-burners.

[Itzamna]

I definitely would, if they'd get their head out of their bottoms and make it look like a motorcycle. Same thing for cars. Why do you have to make a car ugly, to make it fuel efficient. Seriously, are they purposly trying to keep the market low for them or what. Make alternative fuel bikes and cars look like normal bikes and cars, and you might see more people buy them.

[Images]

Not if they all look like that. I'm all for getting away from fossil fuels. But I'm also an old school guy and like the more classic styling and sound. So they're going to have to address aesthetic issues for me.

[old-n-slow]

Change comes hard to many of us. This might be the first fell cell powered M/C but not the first non-internal combustion engine design. A while back, I read about a nifty little off road bike that had real performance though was a bit short on range with current battery technology.

Change will come when it has to. I would have no problem cruising around town with this thing but certainly would not want to attempt it out on the highway with present day traffic. In fact, I think it might be rather neat to be in the forefront with such a beast. It does have spoke wheels so maybe a playing card held on by a clothes peg for sound effects?

[the_first_lonewolf]

bikes like that prototype would be great for city folks to putt around town but I need my v-twin for the hiways and just cruizin'

Lonewolf

[gpn50]

Will wait and see what pans out with these furture bikes. Never forget that the reason we ride is noise, vibration, speed, acceleraton, all those things that awakens our soul and seperates us from the cages. Never say Never so I say show me and see where it goes from here. There is that part of me that will do anything to get away from petrol just so I can see the terrorists go back to hearding camels and screwing animals, that could be a reason to go alternative in itself. RIDE SAFE!!!

[Nibblet99]

ENV is lightweight, streamlined and aerodynamic. It is also virtually silent
(with noise emissions equivalent to an everyday home computer) and its emissions are almost completely clean.

You'd never convince the harliests to buy it then