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August 09, 2005
Fuel cell motorcycle wins Taiwanese backing
A fuel cell motorcycle is to be demonstrated in Taiwan after proposals won financial backing from the government.
First used by NASA in the 1960's for power generation in space capsules. Cells are now being used to generate power in a range of products. Fuel cells rely on the chemical interaction of natural gas and certain other metals, such as platinum, gold, and other electrolytes to produce electricity. The only by-product of a fuel cell's operation is water, which is pure enough to drink.
Hailed as an important milestone on the road towards fuel cell commercialisation, the funding has been granted to Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies (APFCT) to demonstrate the vehicle.
The demonstration programme will aim to display a hybrid system in a scooter motorcycle comprised of hybrid fuel cell technology as well as lithium ion battery power.
Commenting on the funding, Dr Jefferson Yang, chairman of APFCT, said that fleet demonstration was a "necessary step" in making fuel cell technology available to the consumer.
"Taiwan is a world leader in gasoline ICE scooter manufacture and we hope this demonstration program will significantly contribute towards maintaining Taiwan�s global technology leadership in scooters and fuel cells in general," he added.
A 40-vehicle fleet will be used to demonstrate the technology, with funding for the programme expected to cost $4.6 million.
Posted by admin at August 9, 2005 03:37 PM