In recent years, green hydrogen has been identified as an increasingly attractive clean energy source that could help accelerate our transition away from fossil fuels. And while we’ve seen hydrogen-powered trains, planes, and even boats, it seems like bikes have been left behind — that is, until now.
A manufacturer called Electric Assisted Vehicles (EAV) has recently unveiled six H2-powered electric cargo bicycles as part of a trial process for the technology and design. The aim of the project is to help provide real-world data about the use of H2-powered cargo bikes for last-mile deliveries.
According to EAV, the idea of the project stems from concerns over the weight and the true environmental footprint of only using battery electric vehicles. “It’s a simple fact that the raw materials for battery production are in short supply,” said EAV founder Adam Barmby. “EAV focuses on weight reduction, so we use less energy and therefore require less batteries.”
The hydrogen-powered eCargo bikes incorporate the hydrogen fuel cells directly into the powertrain, generating electricity that’s stored in a few small batteries. When consumed as a fuel cell, the hydrogen emits only water. This means that if green hydrogen is used as a fuel, the bikes can be considered as zero-emissions vehicles. The pilot project is expected to kick off this year in Aberdeen, Scotland.
