French start-up makes world's first hydrogen-powered bike
What's the story
French start-up Pragma Industries is reportedly manufacturing the first hydrogen-powered bicycles in the world called Alpha bikes.
The bikes, that use Hydrogen fuel cells, are produced in factories for corporate fleets like bike-rental operators and delivery companies, and municipal organizations.
Here is more on these industrialized bikes that look and ride like any normal bicycle.
Details
Hydrogen-powered bikes can be refueled in minutes
Alpha bikes can function for about 100km on a two-liter hydrogen tank.
While this distance range is similar to that of an electric bike, here is where the two are different: A hydrogen-powered bike can be refilled in minutes whereas e-bikes take hours to charge.
This happens because a one-kilo lithium battery possesses about 600 times less energy compared to one kilo of hydrogen.
Pricing
Bike price might reduce from 7,500 Euros to 5,000 Euros
Manufactured for corporate use, the bikes are pretty expensive at about a price of 7,500 Euros per bike.
However, wanting to foray into the consumer market, Pragma said that the company has been thinking about bringing the price down to 5,000 Euros.
This would put Alpha bikes in the same range as other premium electric bikes.
Alternative
Company working on bike that turns water into hydrogen on-the-go
Pragma said that it is also trying to work out a solution that will not limit the bike's range due to the size of its hydrogen tank.
For that, the company is developing a bike that will be able to convert plain water into hydrogen on-the-go.
So far, countries like Norway, the US, Spain, Italy and Germany have shown interest in acquiring Alpha bikes.