Early Adopters Hop on for the Ride

June 12, 2005 – Vol.10 No.12

EARLY ADOPTERS - HOP ON FOR THE RIDE.

Now available to U.S. bikers: a hydrogen fuel cell powered motorbike that will do double-duty as a mobile power supply. The hitch? For now it’s $6000, but the wonders of mass production could bring that price down. Read on.

Intelligent Energy has announced the U.S. availability of its stylish ENV(envy). According to the company, ENV is the world’s first purpose-built hydrogen fuel cell motorbike. But it’s much more.

At the core of ENV is its CORE, a combination fuel cell, battery and hydrogen storage device that can be removed and used as a portable power supply. The one-kilowatt CORE power plant could be used to energize a small electric boat, provide emergency power for a home, or provide power for a cabin in the mountains. (ENV was designed as a trail bike - so it can get to that cabin - and can be an urban commuter.) CORE’s internal battery provides up to 6-kilowatts of peaking power.

ENV has a top speed of about 50 miles per hour and can run for an average of four hours before refueling. Range, though, in urban environments is expected to be 100 miles, not 200.

Critique? ENV could appeal to the same crowd who first jumped on Segway scooters. However, ENV needs hydrogen, which is not available at the local filling station. Further, Intelligent Energy will not be mass producing the ENV. They’re looking for partners to help out at that end. (The ENVs now available are considered pre-production versions.)

Visit ENV at http://www.envbike.com/