It’s sleek, it’s sexy, it’s…environmentally friendly. The latest Suzuki prototype, the Crosscage, is an air-cooled fuel cell motorcycle combined with a powerful secondary battery to realize optimum power control. The fuel-cell unit is made by a British specialist company Intelligent Energy and delivers quick activation with low fuel consumption, and a lithium-ion battery that is safe with a low environmental burden.
As of 2009, Suzuki has created a working prototype running off of electricity. The bike features thin-section tires are for low rolling resistance, an innovative flip-up action seat, allowing the hydrogen tank to be refilled, and a full digital dash atop the bars including a tachometer and speedometer.
The most recent fuel cells produce about 1.8kw of energy, enough to actually recharge the lithium battery packs to keep up with demand during use. Max speed is around 50-60mph and the bike can travel around 215 miles per tank of hydrogen.
While there is no set release date, Suzuki and Intelligent Designs have made an agreement with British Olympic organizers for the 2012 games in London. The two companies also hope to get the tank approved for use on a motorcycle along with other tests to increase approval and boost eventual sales in Europe and Japan. The price tag is set to be around 8,000 euros or 11,000USD.
