Pragma Industries bets on hydrogen e-bike
While Toyota prepares to launch its first hydrogen sedan in Europe, Pragma Industries also wants to adapt the technology for electric bicycles.
Hydrogen e-bikes ... have you dreamed about it? Pragma Industries has done it! The French group, based in Biarritz, strongly believes in the future of hydrogen in the electric bike segment. Technology that may be required to replace our current batteries by 2020.
With an energy capacity of about 600 Wh, the hydrogen tank allows you to travel up to 100 kilometers with a full tank. First of all, it will not be prone to loss of capacity and will not be very sensitive to weather conditions, which tend to limit the lifespan and performance of our conventional batteries.
Park of ten bikes in October
A system called Alter Bike, developed by Pragma Industries, was already presented in 2013 on an electric bike from Gitane in collaboration with Cycleurope.
Since then, the company has developed its concept of a new Alter 2 technology demonstrator, of which about ten units are to be manufactured during the ITS World Congress, which will take place next October in Bordeaux.
When they hit an unannounced market, hydrogen bikes from Pragma Industries should primarily target professionals and in particular Groupe La Poste, whose current VAE fleet has been supplied by Cycleurope.
Remove a lot of brakes
While hydrogen-powered e-bikes may sound interesting on paper, there are still many hurdles to overcome to democratize technology, most notably cost. Given the small series and still expensive hydrogen technology, it will cost around € 5000 per bike, which is 4 times more than a battery-powered electric bike.
In terms of recharging, if it only takes three minutes to “refuel” (versus 3 hours for a battery), hydrogen refueling stations are still required for the system to work. However, if electrical outlets are everywhere, hydrogen stations are still rare, especially in France ...
Do you believe in the future of the hydrogen electric bike?
