Video: Design students create a fuel cell powered BMW bike

BMW fuel cell motorcycle design concept - Click above for image gallery

Like many other automakers, BMW has expended plenty of research and development on hydrogen fuels. But unlike every other automaker, BMW has focused on liquid hydrogen with internal combustion engines. A group of design students at ISD of Valenciennes, France felt no such constraints in their latest project.

They've created a BMW badged motorcycle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell with a lithium polymer battery for electrical energy storage. Hydrogen is stored in a 20-liter cryogenic tank mounted where the engine would normally sit, with a suspension consisting of single-sided swing arms front and rear. Propulsion comes via a shaft drive system from the 100 kilowatt motor.

At this point, the bike doesn't physically exist, but it looks really cool in the video after the jump. A tip of the hat to Radhika!

Related GalleryBMW fuel cell motorcycle design concept

[Source: Yanko Design]

Category: Concept Cars, BMW, Motorcycle, Electric

Tags: bmw fuel cell motorcycle, BmwFuelCellMotorcycle, Fuel Cell, fuel cell motorcycle, fuel cell motorcycle concept, fuel cell motorcycles, fuel cells, Fuel-cell, FuelCell, FuelCellMotorcycle, FuelCellMotorcycleConcept, FuelCellMotorcycles, FuelCells, ISD of Valenciennes, IsdOfValenciennes

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rudy

Think of the side panels.

February 26 2010 at 6:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

FamilyGuy

That's a nice lookin' bike. Riding aesthetics/aspects might be totally different though.

February 26 2010 at 1:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

IvanOhhg

all i can say is that this is damn hot design. Is not all they way by BMW standards, but it looking cool.

Thanks
Ivan http://www.onlyhothotgirls.com/

February 26 2010 at 12:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Willis

Low speed turning effort would be high

I wonder what the tank strength and hytrogen preassure is? If the h2 is stored cold I wonder how long you can keep this thing parked in a garage. It would have to vent?

February 26 2010 at 11:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

BoxerFanatic

Fictional hub-centered steering is an interesting touch... minus any linkages from the bars to the wheel.

Hub center steering is interesting, but not the most efficient control interface. Hossack/Duolever has most of the same physics advantages, and a more direct connection to the steering input, the handle-bars.

An exposed driveshaft outside of the paralever arm is a bit odd, too...

That is aside from the technical issues surrounding a fuel cell, whether this thing actually has one, or not.

It looks interesting, but it only looks that way. It doesn't bear up to a whole lot of scrutiny.

I just want an R1300RS, with the new DOHC boxer, and a Duolever front end, and a half-fairing like a mix between the now both discontinued R1200S and K1200R-Sport.

-Versatility of R1100RS, or R1100S, with bag mount capability, and useable pillion seat.
-Light frame construction and sporty performance of the R1200S and HP2 Sport.
-DOHC Boxer that is spreading from HP2 Sport to R-GS and R-ST now...
-Half-fairing wind protection like most of those bikes, and K1200R-Sport
-Duolever front end from the K-bike line.

I think that would make a fantastic R1250RS, or R1300RS. I say RS, because it would be a little less hard edged than HP2 Sport, (which should continue on as the outright sport model, minus a bit of the unobtanium carbon-fiber replacement parts...), but would rather be a bit more practical than R1200S, and more the successor to the R1100S, or the old R-RS designation bikes. A sport touring machine with that splits the difference between an ST full fairing tourer, and the HP2 Sport full sportbike.

At least what I propose might actually be realistically possible. :D

February 26 2010 at 11:29 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

kimosen

I don't see this concept as any less or more useful than the "fuel cell" concepts that auto makers show at the auto shows every year, which is to say, totally useless.

What's the point of saying it's "fuel cell" when it's not?

They may as well have put a "fuel cell" sticker on the side of a real BMW motorcycle - it's no *less* of a lie than what the automakers do.

February 26 2010 at 11:08 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Rob S

Sorry, how do you turn right?

Left for that matter.

fungicide3ex

There are other front swing arm bike (ie vyrus) and they perform wonderfuly. The only issue with this concept is it seems to be lacking handlebars.

February 26 2010 at 10:59 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to fungicide3ex's comment

Nvm. Just watched the video.

February 26 2010 at 11:01 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ShadowVlican

DESIGN students too... this will never make it into production after it passes a couple engineers

February 26 2010 at 10:58 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

96ti

That thing looks like a death trap...

February 26 2010 at 10:46 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to 96ti's comment

Farmboy

I'm afraid because it looks like it could fall forward and my face will become part of the tread.

February 26 2010 at 10:54 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

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Video: Design students create a fuel cell powered BMW bike

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