E1PC Electric Race Bike

[Desmostro]

The production of hydrogen depends on the location. Hawaii and Iceland are setting themselves up to be the "OPEC" of hydrogen and hydro-power because of abundant volcanic activity on the islands. This volcanic energy is the key component in creating extremely cheep electricity. The current method is simply dumping water in volcano chambers and passing the steam through turbines.

The trouble with hydrogen is still keeping it from leaking out of its tank being the small molecule there is.  

...and the energy to do so currently comes from oil...hence the problem.

(wikipedia)

The predominant methods of hydrogen production rely on exothermic chemical reactions of fossil fuels to provide the energy needed to chemically convert feedstock into hydrogen. But when the energy supply is mechanical (hydropower or wind turbines), hydrogen can be made via high pressure electrolysis or low pressure electrolysis of water. In current market conditions, the 50 kWh of electricity consumed to manufacture one kilogram of compressed hydrogen is roughly as valuable as the hydrogen produced, assuming 8 cents/kWh. The price equivalence, despite the inefficiencies of electrical production and electrolysis, are due to the fact that most hydrogen is made from fossil fuels which couple more efficiently to producing the chemical directly, than they do to producing electricity.

+1 batteries kind of suck as they are now. The really exciting technology is Super Capacitors which the (SF based) Mission Motorcycle uses.  
Very cool stuff.

[fasterblkduc]

I rode a Vectrix VX-1 electric scooter at an SAE meeting a couple of weeks ago. 

I wanted to go to that same meeting...I missed the sign up because I forgot Would've been funny to see you there.

[bluemoco]

I wanted to go to that same meeting...I missed the sign up because I forgot Would've been funny to see you there.

  No kidding! I didn't know you were an SAE member.

Too bad you weren't there - the Vectrix presentation was good, and the scoots were fun to ride.  It was a bit of a reunion for me - Vectrix' Director of Sales was a friend from my days at Polaris. 

[Triple J]

The production of hydrogen depends on the location. Hawaii and Iceland are setting themselves up to be the "OPEC" of hydrogen and hydro-power because of abundant volcanic activity on the islands. This volcanic energy is the key component in creating extremely cheep electricity. The current method is simply dumping water in volcano chambers and passing the steam through turbines.

I'm not sure what a volcano chamber is...but Hawaii and Iceleand don't have a monopoly on geothermal power by any means. Nevada for instance has a geothermal plant just south of Reno, as well as another on I-80 west of Lovelock...and there are hot springs all over the world. The problem with geothermal power, regardless of location, is that when the steam comes up from the ground it carries a high concentration of minerals with it. These minerals are prone to depositing on the turbine blades, throwing them out of balance in a relatively short time period. Preventative maintenance for this is pricey...making the electricity generated more expensive than other alternatives.

If geothermal energy was so cheap, you'd expect it to be much more common...especially in places like Hawaii, Iceland, Nevada, Wyoming, etc.

[Buckethead]

The problem with geothermal power, regardless of location, is that when the steam comes up from the ground it carries a high concentration of minerals with it. These minerals are prone to depositing on the turbine blades, throwing them out of balance in a relatively short time period. Preventative maintenance for this is pricey...making the electricity generated more expensive than other alternatives.

Which is why you don't use the steam itself to power the turbines. You use the geothermal energy to turn clean water into steam to run your turbines.

Some energy is lost in the transition, but your maintenance issues are much simpler. Just scrape the deposits off your heat exchanger, rather than the turbines.

[ryandalling]

Read the results....

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/498/3734/Motorcycle-Article/2009-Isle-of-Man-TT-TTXGP-Results.aspx

Oregon based teams did well.... however some notable ones did not.

[abby normal]

to get back on topic ... did Czysz abandon the 4-cyl twin crank GP bike project?

[Pedro-bot]

to get back on topic ... did Czysz abandon the 4-cyl twin crank GP bike project?

Unfortunately the answer to your question is yes.