Who would’ve thought one day would be possible to ride somewhere thanks to water? HubUR, they did. There’s a new e-bike named is Boon H2. And the company behind this invention, did something a bit different from what we are used to seeing: a bike that works with water.
A hydrogen fuel-cell replaces the normal battery. But the idea is more complex than that, they are looking for carbon neutrality with sustainable transport.
Today, many brands are going for the greener choice: electric vehicles. But this is not the only way, hydrogen and biofuels have proven to work very well too. And here’s where Boon H2 does their entrance: a different electric bike, thought to do daily trips without smoke.
This electric bike can run up to 100 miles (160.93 km) in autonomy, and has between 250 W and 500 W of power. It also comes with an electrolyzer, and this device will give you the power to generate hydrogen at your own home using water, so you won’t depend on external fuel stations.
In Japan, huge companies like Toyota have been trying hydrogen for years, and their CEO, Akio Toyoda, said it in 2021: “The enemy is carbon, not internal combustion engines. We shouldn’t just focus on one technology but make use of the technologies we already possess.” Cutting emissions by using different renewable energy sources and technologies, not only one, is indeed a good example Toyota is giving to the electric vehicle industry.
How the Boon H2 bike works
The Boon H2 doesn’t store a big battery like other e-bikes. No, this one uses a hydrogen fuel-cell. And this cell takes hydrogen (H₂) and combines it with the oxygen in the air. This generates electricity for the engine. Then, you get energy to move around and water vapor as an “escape.”
But the most original feature of this bike is the electrolyzer. HubUR includes one, and this thing is what allows you to produce hydrogen in your house with water. The process goes like this: the device separates the water into two, hydrogen and oxygen, using electricity. The hydrogen is stocked to later feed the bike. And why is this such a big thing? Because there are not many hydrogen stations yet, the fact that you can fabricate your own eases that problem. And having 100 miles plus a power of 250-500W is more than enough to go to school, go to work, or go to the gym without worrying so much about charging the bike.
Biking to neutrality
The transport industry is changing a lot. Electrical vehicles are helping a lot, yes, but they don’t cover the whole picture yet; there’s the charging time, autonomy, finding special stations… it can be a challenge for some. That’s why other solutions are also getting studied, like hydrogen and biofuels.
Toyota in Japan has been studying hydrogen for years, at the same time, they’re also improving their electric cars. Proof that one thing can go hand in hand with the other one.
If you can produce hydrogen at home, you will have your own station in your kitchen, or garage, or wherever you want to put it.
Greener… like the water itself
The Boon H2 from HubUR is looking to add a new perspective to the e-bikes. It’s easy to see why it’s catching everyone’s eye, though: a hydrogen fuel-cell e-bike, with long autonomy (up to 100 miles) and an electrolyzer to generate the fuel you need in your house.
Right now, looking for more sustainable solutions is a reality, with pollution and climate change, maybe even a necessity, and HubUR seems to have understood the message.