The Fhybrid hydrogen + Li-ion scooter

Not the first kind of hybrid when you think of a hybrid these days, the Fhybrid scoots from points A to B with a little bit of this (hydrogen) and a little bit of that (Li-ion cells). Oh sure, they could have just made it easy and gone with the reliable old NiMH batts, but where's the fun in that? Crijn Bouman, who designed the Fhybrid at the Delft University of Technology, claims it'll hit up to 40mph and has a range of 124 miles. In other words, plenty far enough to get a mouth full of bugs.

[Thanks, Fernando]

[?? @ Jul 27th 2006 2:40AM]

This is a very nice photo. It is very cool to ride a scootor.

[Jeffrey M Foster @ Jul 27th 2006 2:44AM]

i'd totally ride that to campus!

sweet.

[scott @ Jul 27th 2006 2:55AM]

im thinking... 15 grand... IF it is ever available(they have to make it unnattractive to the prolitariate like you and me somehow)

that top speed puts it in the range of motorcycle license if it's true though, bummer since i dont have a license at all.

[pbase @ Jul 27th 2006 3:02AM]

It's what the Segway should have been.

[Rob @ Jul 27th 2006 3:04AM]

I'd just support this for the mere fact that it could replace the conventional scooters and their ANNOYING sound. No more sudden aggressive feelings when a scooter comes by! But the 'cool guys' probably dont think riding this and saving the planet and all that, is cool. Very nice effort anyway, looking forward to see where that'll go...

[eTiMaGo @ Jul 27th 2006 3:17AM]

Cool... I'd buy one... How does the hydrogen system work though? do you have to re-fuel, and if so, does it need to be at some special gas station?

[Perf @ Jul 27th 2006 3:22AM]

Wow! Cool! Does it come with an organ donor card? Riding a motor scooter without a helmet is a great way to become a donor.

[Alex @ Jul 27th 2006 3:48AM]

If they could invent a scooter that wouldn't make you look gay, then - and only then - would I buy one!


Okay, maybe I'm being snarky. The technology is definitely intriguing. Could it ever power a full-sized automobile?

[PacketMonkee @ Jul 27th 2006 6:15AM]

If only it was a Vespa...

[Fashion man @ Jul 27th 2006 6:19AM]

I'd only ride it if I could wear socks with my sandles.

[TZK @ Jul 27th 2006 6:27AM]

No one is buying anything, so forget it.

[Oddmanout @ Jul 27th 2006 9:44AM]

I've been riding a scooter lately over here in Japan. I've found it to be quite fun and actually rather convenient. For short hauls it's pretty great. So this thang looks quite apealing.

But, since I went with a 49cc to make licensing easier I've got a hankerin' for more power. Get this hybrid design up to the output and handling of your average 400cc - 500cc sport/touring bike and I am sold.

Unless they do that with this...

http://www.envbike.com/

...technology first.

[phi @ Jul 27th 2006 9:51AM]

the ability to not pollute and crack open my skull and rip all my skin off without a helmet or protective gear. Great!

[erik @ Jul 27th 2006 10:23AM]

@alex
Yes, Honda has an operational fuelcell car with very similar technology.
http://corporate.honda.com/environment/fuel_cells.aspx?id=fuel_cells_fcx
I would buy hydrogen fuel cell products in a millisecond if the infrustructor was in place. That means sufficient fueling stations ASWELL as home wind and/or solar hydrogen plants (ie, feed it power and water and you get hydrogen, in otherwords...fuel for the price of water).

[spud boy @ Jul 27th 2006 10:27AM]

.
Another interesting one-off prototype with no commercial value whatsoever.
.
.

[Steve Holt @ Jul 27th 2006 10:28AM]

I applaud your efforts towards a clean, space efficient, 2 wheeler. The fact that it is front wheel drive raises some intriguing thoughts about safety and handling of scooters. The weight mass in front definitely changes things on a scooter. Perhaps an airbag could be incorporated into that section also.
Unfortunately, you perpetuated the myth that cycle riders are invincible by showing your model without any protective gear; helmet, cycle jacket, gloves, long pants, sturdy shoes. Even falling off a bike at 20 to 30 mph produces agonizing injuries similar to 3rd degree burns and the treatment thereof. That’s if you don’t break any bones or crush your skull.
It is very cool to have a scooter that is environmentally responsible. Riding in full gear may not look cool but it beats the heck out of skin grafts. I commute on a scooter daily and am aware of the risks and the joy of riding these neat little machines.

[Wry Cooter @ Jul 27th 2006 12:25PM]

The lack of an annoying sound is going to make them more likely to end up as roadkill, as some SUV doesn't hear them coming.

[Bard @ Jul 27th 2006 12:37PM]

Speaking as a Vintage Vespa and Lambretta restorer AND someone who grew up on REAL punk, not the corporate crap, I still can't believe the American mindset that Scooter=gay. You guys need to get out in the REAL world (aka Asia and Europe) and realize that it's what a majority of the population drives. Beisdes: Try to screw with a a true skin's GS150 and see if you get to walk away breathing.

That being said, I'm very impressed by the technology. Now if they can make this kit fit into the standard Piaggio/Vespa/Kymco scooter body type, I think there will be NO problem getting people to accept the higher price point. Granted they still need to tweak the power for me to forgo my Stella 150 and make this my daily ride. If they can match the power and acceleration of a 150cc motorscooter and get it to bout 60mph CONSISTANTLY, then they have a winner even with the expensive price point.

Oh, and for those who complain about a motorcycle licence....wha!! I think EVERY motor-powered bike should get a licence. Then again I also believe that SUV's should have a different licence requirement since they operate way different than an ecconobox. Too many idiots on this side of the pond think that one thing is just like the other and can't drive any of it.

Now that I've gone WAY off topic....cool scoot concept!

[Coprock @ Jul 27th 2006 1:40PM]

To Rob and Alex: Annoying sound and looking gay.

As a recent convert to riding a scooter, there is nothing annoying or gay about the sound or look of reducing my gasoline consumption from 36 gallons/month to 8/month as well as enjoying my ride to work every day and errands that don't require highway trips.

The only drawback to riding a scooter is a greater awareness of the cell phone yacking/suv driving fools who are constatly violating the driving space of more socially/environmentally conscious commuters.

'nuf said

[Major Malfunction @ Jul 27th 2006 3:50PM]

Did anyone read that tiny little article?

Graduate project, "simulated fuel-cell", no hydrogen-powered anything... and is run off of Li-ion batteries. Top speed of 40mph, great... accelerates faster than regular scooters, yes, every battery powered vehicle does off the start since a motor has greater torque than an engine.. its instant on. And the final statement... "could travel approximately 124 miles on a tank of hydrogen"!? What hydrogen, I could build one of these out of lego bricks and say it could travel 300 miles if I dream up some numbers.

So basically, it's an electric scooter, and I'm not sure why anything beyond that was stated, or how it should end up on Engadget. *shruuuuug*

[Gio @ Jul 27th 2006 5:48PM]

For $15,000, i think i'll walk!

[Pat @ Jul 27th 2006 6:33PM]

"...mouth full of bugs" - that made me laugh out loud! Oil industry will kill it before it sees the light of day.

[tim @ Sep 4th 2006 12:54PM]

awesome - I'd buy one since all my electricity is covered in my accomodation charges. No fuel costs!