Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
3 min of reading 
0 comments 
MIT Researchers Convert a Regular Vehicle Into a Hydrogen-Powered Motorcycle, Transforming a 1999 Sport Ducati Into the New Fuel.
The specialized electric vehicle team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has made a remarkable innovation by modifying a Ducati 900SS. This classic model was completely disassembled and rebuilt as a hydrogen-powered motorcycle. During the process, the bike was not only converted but also enhanced with an innovative design, the code for which is available as open source, encouraging collaborations and future developments by third parties.
Understand How the MIT Hydrogen Motorcycle Was Developed
According to data from MIT News, the team decided to develop this hydrogen-powered motorcycle with batteries to better understand how this clean fuel source works, which has higher density and is less commonly used, and hopefully to inspire others to attempt building vehicles that can use hydrogen as an energy source.
The hydrogen motorcycle has been in development for about a year, starting with a donated vehicle, a 1999 Ducati Supersport. The combustion engine and all existing accessories were removed from the model, leaving only the frame with steering, brakes, and suspension. An electric power engine was installed, along with a small battery and direct chain transmission to the rear wheel.
-
BYD Atto 2 DM-i flex prepares to debut in Brazil with a plug-in hybrid engine, national assembly in Camaçari, competitive pricing, and targets Creta and T-Cross in a battle that promises to heat up the compact SUV market.
-
Harley-Davidson created an entry-level motorcycle that seems impossible for those who only know the brand’s big bikes: the X440 uses a 440 cc single-cylinder engine, delivers 27 hp, 38 Nm, a declared fuel consumption of 35 km/l, and showcases a small, rational, and much more accessible Harley in India.
-
GAC Aion UT lands in Brazil for R$ 135,990 as the most affordable electric car in the country with over 200 hp, surpasses BYD Dolphin in size, features a 360 camera, and offers up to 310 km of range to challenge Chinese rivals.
-
Mitsubishi confirms the triumphant return of a car beloved by Brazilians that was discontinued after almost 40 years, based on the Triton, 4×4, and targets rival Toyota Land Cruiser in a plan of 13 SUVs.
The hydrogen-powered motorcycle system was added as a range extender, continuously extracting energy through a fuel cell powered by a gas cylinder mounted under the rear of the motorcycle.
According to the project leader at MIT, Aditya Mehrotra, the hydrogen motorcycle was fully developed for research, allowing for component swaps and obtaining real hardware data on the quality of their designs.
In the video it was presented, the hydrogen-powered motorcycle doesn’t seem to be very fast. However, the team is preparing to replace the ready-to-use electric motor with something a bit more exciting and customized.
Kawasaki Hydrogen Motorcycle to Hit the Market Soon
In addition to this initiative by MIT scientists, over the years, there have been several attempts to develop hydrogen motorcycles by motorcycle manufacturers. More recently, Kawasaki modified one of its models to use hydrogen in its 1000cc combustion engine.
The brand is putting the prototype to the test this year. The latest innovation from the Japanese brand is the Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX, a hydrogen-powered sport motorcycle that stands out for its zero emissions.
This new type of hydrogen motorcycle promises to be a milestone for the future of mobility, offering several advantages over electric models. Among the advantages of this hydrogen-powered motorcycle, compared to a regular electric motorcycle, is its ability to travel further without having to stop to recharge the batteries, in addition to refueling much faster.
Green Hydrogen Is the Solution for Sustainable Mobility
Electromobility is advancing worldwide at a rapid pace. However, in Brazil, there are still challenges to overcome, such as the cost of vehicles and batteries. Thus, hydrogen can be an alternative in cases where using a battery doesn’t make sense, but rather a gas or liquid that can be stored in tanks, for example, in buses, trains, heavy trucks, and forklifts. Additionally, the fuel is three times more powerful than gasoline.
This assessment is from the director of the Brazil-Germany Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Paraná) and Honorary Consul of Germany in Curitiba, Andreas F.H Hoffrichter. Brazil has enormous potential for hydrogen production from clean and sustainable sources, such as wind, hydropower, and solar. The use of clean energy in the electrolysis process results in green hydrogen.
Be the first to react!