Hydrogen hybrid scooter

With the numbers of scooters and three-wheelers being used worldwide, reaching into millions, their adaptation to clean hydrogen and fuel cell technologies has a truly great potential to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and kickstart the switch to a hydrogen inclusive economy. The Hybrid Scooter for the Disabled project is an applied R&D activity launched in Spain at the initiative of the Hydrogen European Center. It is aimed at providing hands-on experience to local engineers for the adaptation of small vehicles to internal combustion engine - fuel cell-battery powered hybrid drives, to help raise public awareness into the issues of hydrogen energy. The rear wheels of the vehicle are powered by a classical internal combustion engine, whereas the front wheel is driven by an electric motor getting its energy from a 1.2 kW proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The PEM fuel cell itself takes its fuel from two metal hydride cylinders storing sufficient hydrogen to travel about 25 km. The vehicle can be operated in hybrid mode (where both power options are used together at the same time) or independent power mode (using either the engine or the fuel cell). In fuel cell mode, it is able to run as a zero-emission vehicle. The scooter is designed for use by disabled or elderly people outdoors or indoors at a maximum speed of 15 km/h.