Hybrid scooter for disabled and elderly people

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With the numbers of scooters and three-wheelers being used worldwide, especially in the Far-East, reaching into millions, their adaptation to clean hydrogen and fuel cell technologies has a truly great potential to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and kickstart the switch to a hydrogen inclusive economy. The Hybrid Scooter for the Disabled project is an applied R&D activity launched in Turkey at the initiative of the International Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies (ICHET). It is aimed at providing hands-on experience to local engineers for the adaptation of small vehicles to internal combustion engine - fuel cell-battery powered hybrid drives and will be demonstrated at exhibitions worldwide, starting from Hannover Fair in 2009, to help raise public awareness into the issues of hydrogen energy.
The rear wheels of the vehicle are powered by a classical internal combustion engine, whereas the front wheel is driven by an electric motor getting its energy from a 1.2 kW proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The PEM fuel cell itself takes its fuel from two metal hydride cylinders storing sufficient hydrogen to travel about 25 km.
The vehicle can be operated in hybrid mode (where both power options are used together at the same time) or independent power mode (using either the engine or the fuel cell). In fuel cell mode, it is able to run as a zero-emission vehicle.
The scooter is designed for use by disabled or elderly people outdoors or indoors at a maximum speed of 15 km/h.
The project started in June 2008 and was completed by March 2009 in collaboration with Dr. Yavuz Soydan from Tagem-Kopisan, an engineering company experienced in the modification of wheelchairs for use in challenging environments.

System specifications

  • FC/ICE hybrid
  • 1.2 kW proton exchange membrane fuel cell
  • Hydrogen storage: metal hydride cylinders
  • Autonomy with two cylinders: 100 minutes
  • Max. speed 15 km/h