APFCT sees limited launch for hydrogen scooters

APFCT sees limited launch for hydrogen scooters

November 16, 2012 0 By John Max

Hydrogen Scooters

APFCT aims to introduce Asian market to hydrogen transportation

Hydrogen transportation is growing in popularity around the world. Vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells present both an economic and environmentally friendly way to get around. Indeed, most of the world’s leading automakers, such as Toyota, Honda, and Daimler, are developing hydrogen-powered vehicles for commercialization in 2015, if not sooner. APFCT is one of the companies developing hydrogen-powered vehicles, though these vehicles will not take the form of a typical sedan. Instead, the company has been working on building hydrogen-powered scooters.

Scooters are widely popular in Asia

Scooters are one of the most popular motor vehicles in the Asian market. In cities with dense populations, scooters allow people to get around quickly, avoiding traffic jams and even sidestepping accidents that would have ruined larger vehicles. Though scooters are popular throughout Asia, the growing price of fuel has made these vehicles increasingly expensive. APFCT has seen an opportunity to solve this problem and believes that hydrogen fuel cells are the answer.

Hydrogen scooters pass rigorous road tests

The APFCT hydrogen-powered scooters have been road tested for the past several months. The scooters are equipped with an electric motor that receives its power from a single fuel cell. The fuel cell generates electricity through the use of hydrogen gas, which is stored in a small, pressurized canister. These canisters can be changed out or refilled to keep the fuel cell generating electricity. APFCT has announced that 80 of these vehicles will be made available to the general public in Taiwan, all of which have been road tested and qualify for the country’s licenses.

Lack of infrastructure may hurt sales of hydrogen vehicles

APFCT is looking at a limited launch for its hydrogen-powered scooters. Though the scooters have been deemed safe for the road, there is not telling how consumers will respond to these new vehicles. Many consumers who already have scooters may not be inclined to invest their money in a new form of vehicle, especially one that relies on fuel that is not readily available. Currently, the hydrogen fuel infrastructure in Asia is scarce, meaning that consumers could have trouble finding the fuel they need to keep their hydrogen-powered vehicles, scooters or otherwise, running.

Spread the love