MIT Students Unveil a Unique Hydrogen Fuel Cell–Powered Electric Motorcycle

MIT's Electric Vehicle Team has ventured into the world of unconventional transportation, unveiling a hydrogen-powered electric motorcycle.

According to MIT News, the team, renowned for its innovation in building and racing electric vehicles, is departing from the battery-powered norm to explore the potential of hydrogen fuel cell technology.

Hydrogen-Powered Motorcycle

The hydrogen-powered motorcycle, created from a modified Ducati 900SS, underwent its inaugural test-track demonstration in October.

Unique to this project, MIT's Electric Vehicle Team openly shares the design as an open-source platform, encouraging experimentation and modifications by other enthusiasts.

Aditya Mehrotra, a graduate student leading the project, explained that the idea emerged from combining his interest in motorcycles with a study of energy systems.

The team views hydrogen-powered vehicles as a cleaner alternative, especially compared to lithium mining-associated emissions and the limited range of battery-powered cars.

This motorcycle will not be entering races but will be showcased at conferences globally, serving as a conversation starter on hydrogen-based transportation. The team plans to present the bike at conferences such as the Hydrogen Americas Summit, the World Hydrogen Summit in the Netherlands, and the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Mehrotra highlighted the project's broader goal, which aims to stimulate discussions on "small hydrogen" systems, potentially increasing demand and fostering infrastructure development.

The team aspires to explore new applications for hydrogen, addressing the limitations of battery-powered vehicles. The project, initiated in January 2023, attracted industry sponsors who donated vital components, including the fuel cell from the South Korean company Doosan.

The team has received support from various MIT departments and the MIT Energy Initiative. The initial tests involved using battery power, which was later transitioned to the Doosan fuel cell.

Elizabeth Brennan, a senior in mechanical engineering and the team's safety lead, highlighted the unique challenges associated with handling hydrogen fuel, underscoring the need for specialized safety measures. The team initially used a commercial electric motor but is now developing an improved version designed from scratch.

The team is creating a comprehensive guidebook for their hydrogen-powered motorcycle project to contribute valuable information to hydrogen-based transportation. They plan to release the entire project as an open-source design for research and education.

First Fully Open-Source Fuel Cell Motorcyle

Mehrotra acknowledged the current vehicle's research focus due to the high fuel cell cost but emphasized its potential impact. The MIT Electric Vehicle Team's motorcycle is declared the first globally released fully open-source, rigorously documented, and platform-oriented fuel cell motorcycle.

Annika Marschner, a sophomore in mechanical engineering, expressed excitement about the project's evolution and the team's shift to exploring hydrogen technology. She recognized the challenges in promoting hydrogen energy on the roads but emphasized its potential as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.

The team's journey involves repurposing a 1999 motorcycle frame and creatively fitting the electric motor, hydrogen tank, fuel cell, and drivetrain within the limited space.

Marschner stressed that hydrogen energy is often overlooked but pointed out existing hydrogen-fueled vehicles from companies like Toyota and Hyundai. She identified infrastructure development as the main hurdle for wider hydrogen adoption.

Despite these challenges, Marschner expressed optimism about hydrogen's potential as a clean fuel and emphasized the importance of demonstration projects in showcasing its viability. The MIT Electric Vehicle Team aims to contribute to this movement by advancing their hydrogen-powered motorcycle project.