Suzuki Exhibits its New Fuel-Cell Powered Scooter and Electric Wheelchair
Suzuki put on display series of energy efficient vehicles during the 41st Tokyo Motor Show. Couple of interesting products that grabbed my attention was the Fuel-cell Powered Scooter and Electric Wheelchair. The newly developed scooter, the Burgman Fuel-cell Scooter is based on Crosscage concept motorcycle where the fuel cell generates electricity through reaction between oxygen and hydrogen. The Burgman scooter comes with a structurally simple, compact and light design and it is air cooled. The new scooter is equipped with a 70MPa hydrogen tank, the highest pressure tank which has been used thus far on a bike allowing a usable riding range. The tank is placed within a robust frame for safety reason. The fuel cell itself was developed by British company Intelligent Energy which is a polymer-electrolyte type fuel-cell. The scooter uses a lithium-ion as its secondary battery.
The other interesting product was MIO a fuel-cell-powered wheelchair. The wheelchair is powered by a direct-methanol fuel cell rather than by a conventional lead-acid battery which is kept in a cartridge-type bottle for easy of replacement. The new wheelchair has a maximum speed of 6km/h with a driving range of approximately 60km and maximum hill-climb range of 10 degrees. The direct methanol fuel cell on this wheelchair is capable of maximum output of 300W.
