The exponentially increasing pollution levels around the globe have led manufacturers to switch to cleaner and greener modes of transportation. And electric mobility so far is the most preferred alternative to fossil fuels. However, some OEMs believe that hydrogen-powered vehicles can also become a viable solution for the future. One of these manufacturers is the Indian multinational motorcycle manufacturer TVS Motor Company which according to reports is working on a hydrogen-powered iteration of its popular electric scooter the iQube.
Just a while ago a few of the patents bearing the name and designs of the Indian automaker surfaced online and from those, it was deduced that they are for a hydrogen-powered scooter. The said leaked patent documents showed that the company is working on a scooter with two hydrogen “fuel” canisters mounted to the front downtube of a scooter’s frame. The design illustrations further reveal that a filler nozzle is located on the front apron, and a pipe connects the two canisters.
As for the hydrogen fuel stack, it will be located under the seat, where the battery sits in a traditional electric scooter. Additionally, according to the patent, this scooter will also have a battery pack underneath the floorboard, the size of which has not yet been determined. This batter will store energy produced during braking or deceleration as well as provide extra performance when needed. When power requirements are reduced, the fuel cell may also replenish the battery pack. For the motor, TVS could be deploying a similar hub-mounted 4.4kW motor that can be seen on the outgoing electric iQube scooter.
For those who are unaware a hydrogen fuel celled vehicle works. It functions very similarly to conventional batteries, which also have an electrolyte between their cathode and anode. The anode receives hydrogen, and the cathode receives oxygen from the atmosphere. A catalyst separates the protons and electrons in hydrogen as soon as it comes into contact with the anode. Only protons can swim through the electrolyte to reach the cathode. Therefore, in order to go to the cathode, the electrons must pass through the external wire. Once there, they are trapped as electricity and sent to the controller and the motor. Finally arriving at the cathode with both protons and electrons, hydrogen and oxygen combine to produce water vapour, which is released as exhaust gas.
In other hydrogen-powered vehicle news, the New Jersey-headquartered Triton Electric Vehicle LLC recently announced a piece of huge news about its plans for the Indian market. The EV manufacturer from the United States said that it will enter India with hydrogen-powered two and three-wheeler vehicles. It further stated that these hydrogen-powered two and three-wheeler EVs will be manufactured at its Bhuj factory in Gujarat, where it aims to begin production of EV trucks this year.
Currently, Triton is the only manufacturer in the nation to have declared its entry into the market for hydrogen-powered two and three-wheelers is Triton, one of Tesla Inc.’s rivals. These automobiles made in India will also be sold to other international markets, according to the firm. Triton has already constructed its whole R&D Center facility in Gujarat’s Anand region, where it will produce two- and three-wheelers as well as electric trucks, sedans, and special-purpose vehicles.
