Tag Archives: Hydrogen powered

MIT researchers developing open source hydrogen powered motorcycle for other developers to improve on

Posted on by

Electric battery-powered vehicles might seem the future but in the long run, they are harmful to the environment in their wicked way. The next best thing is the hydrogen-powered drivetrain and many automotive manufacturers are already exploring the possibility. Sure, the cost of such vehicles is not practical enough to go mainstream, still, constant innovations in technology are getting things closer to fruition.

MIT’s electric vehicle team is also exploring the possibility with their hydrogen-powered electric motorcycle prototype. The two-wheeler uses a new hydrogen-based testbed and is open source for other proactive automotive developers to test out as the files are available online. Led by Aditya Mehrotra, a graduate student working with mechanical engineering professor Alex Slocum, the Walter M. May and A. Hazel May Chair in Emerging Technologies, the project aims to take clean energy alternatives to the next level with innovation.

Designer: MIT

According to Aditya, “We’re hoping to use this project as a chance to start conversations around ‘small hydrogen’ systems that could increase demand, which could lead to the development of more infrastructure.” The team took a 1999  Ducati Supersport donor motorcycle frame as the basis and fitted an electric motor, drive train, hydrogen tank and other custom-made components to develop the design. Some components were donated by industry sponsors and the two-wheeler took shape over the period of one year.

The heart of the system is a fuel cell developed by South Korean company Doosan and it’s mated to the supporting gas cylinder for drawing energy. Until the drivetrain is fully developed the bike runs on this hybrid system. The bike is still in the early stages of development and is going to be purely a concept of proof for other designs to follow. To this accord, the team is mindful enough to create a handbook detailing the process of development and fail-safes in case anything goes wrong.

This is important because “a lot of the technology development for hydrogen is either done in simulation or is still in the prototype stages because developing it is expensive, and it’s difficult to test these kinds of systems,” as per one of the team members. There have been previous efforts to develop such hydrogen-powered vehicles but nothing that’s completely open-source like this one. The project is an ongoing endeavor until the cost of the fuel cell is made commercially viable.

The post MIT researchers developing open source hydrogen powered motorcycle for other developers to improve on first appeared on Yanko Design.

This hydrogen propelled Peugeot concept is an ultra-edgy luxury coupe of the future

Posted on by

The rage for electric vehicles as the best defense against rising climate concerns is at its peak and growing exponentially. While all isn’t as green as it seems with electric drivetrain-powered vehicles, a better alternative that’s in the infancy stage is hydrogen-powered vehicles.

At this point in time, the cost of hydrogen-powered drivetrains is steep, thereby, overshadowing benefits like a more extended range and emissions that are nothing more than pure water or vapors. As technological advances propel it forward hydrogen fuel cells will be the way to go.

Designer: Zhe Huang

Inspired by the outshining advantaged of hydrogen fuel cell tech and keeping the future in mind, this Peugeot concept is the luxury coupe we could see roll down the freeways. The design of the concept car is based on the creases of folding paper (not origami) thus giving it a very sharp, edgy personality that goes with what the automotive design community believes will be the norm in future designs. Dubbed Peugeot ‘No Concept’ the car has an immaculate, minimal presence with a sense of visual parity that evokes intrigue.

The Cyberpunkish vibe of this hydrogen car flows from the front to the sides and then to the rear. Its car’s concave side profile adds a muscular appeal leading to the sharp aesthetics at the rear. Smooth, shining surface of the Peugeot coupe is intended to create volume in the right place. For visual depth and contrast, Zhe employs a smart interplay of black glints along with silver and gray colors. When the light hits the car’s surface at different angles, at different times of the day, it somehow seems like a different beast altogether.

From the top, the No Concept looks like an inverted surfboard ready to hit the rough waters. That said it’s just a clever use of oblong tinted glass. Passengers can view through the glass on clear sunny days, while someone watching from the outside will not be able to peek in clearly. Hence, offering privacy to the passengers and riders.

The exterior design is super cool and aerodynamically optimized to reduce drag coefficient for better fuel efficiency and overall range. Peugeot No Concept is exactly what we wanted in a monotonous automotive concept space which is mostly filled with designs that are either impractical or too futuristic to be real!

The post This hydrogen propelled Peugeot concept is an ultra-edgy luxury coupe of the future first appeared on Yanko Design.

This hydrogen-powered pickup truck embodies the perfect balance of aesthetics + performance + utility

Posted on by

Climate change and global warming are decimating the planet, and the burning of fossil fuels for the automotive industry is the major contributor. According to the EPA, since 1970, CO2 emissions have increased by about 90%, with emissions from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes contributing about 78% of the total greenhouse gas emissions increase from 1970 to 2011. The metamorphosis to clean energy-powered vehicles is underway as electric, and hybrid vehicles vow to control the damage done. Hydrogen-powered vehicles are the latest alternative automotive manufacturers are exploring with Toyota Mirao, Hyundai Nexo, and Honda Clarity are good examples of commercially available zero-emission hydrogen cars. While hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are still not mainstream, that scenario will change in the next decade.

Envisioning a future where hydrogen-powered clean vehicles will make up a significant chunk of the portfolio of clean energy-powered automobiles, designer Jacob Amrhein presents his concept of a pickup truck for 2030. The idea here is to create a powerful 4×4 all-terrain vehicle built for the upcoming truck lovers. The pickup truck will be called Solidarity – developed by GM, Stellantis, and Ford – who are already investing quite a lot in low environmental impact vehicles for the planet, focusing on saving the earth before damaging the environment beyond a point of repair. Choosing hydrogen as the reliable fuel of the future for the automotive industry is recommended since it has a better range than electric vehicles or renewable energy use. According to estimates by industry body Hydrogen Council, hydrogen technologies will supply 18 percent of the world’s total energy needs in the future and will be able to power around 425 million vehicles around the world by 2050. The European Commission’s Energy Roadmap for 2050 has proposed that renewables will produce 85 percent of energy; 65 percent of it will come from solar and wind. 

The pickup’s bold design attracts attention with easily accessible dual hydrogen tanks perfectly integrated on the side and on top to suffice the needs on a long trip. Solidarity truck’s utility lies in its modular bed, which can be swapped out for accessories depending on the user’s needs. Also, the slide tie-down points along the bed structure ensure safely hauling the cargo. The tailgate slides under the bed for easy loading or unloading of cargo by facilitating easier reach-in access. It already sounds like a compelling proposition, isn’t it so?

Designer: Jacob Amrhein