Last year Japan for Sustainability reported that Kurimoto, Ltd., a major Japanese machinery manufacturer, had developed a fuel cell (FC) wheelchair. Kurimoto has been working on research and development of small vehicles since 2003, in cooperation with Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies, Ltd. (APFCT) of Taiwan. The wheelchair utilizes a PEM-type fuel cell, what the reporter referred to as a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC)
Besides wheelchairs, Kurimoto has been working on prototypes for an FC walker and an FC scooter. Since the potential market for such devices consists of the elderly and disabled, they may be more suitable than the Gorilla, GEM, or other electric-powered vehicles previously investigated. In other words, instead of a NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle) I may be better off shopping for a PEV (Personal Electric Vehicle) to mollify my mobility desires.
Nor is this cooperation between Japanese and Taiwanese companies the only such development, Fuel Cells Online tell us that a Canadian company has entered into a joint venture with four Chinese companies for similar development.
Palcan has released that the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Economic Commission (MPG), witnessed the recent signing ceremony in Shanghai, China between Palcan, the Shanghai 711 CSIC Institute, Shanghai Ow Bowl Company (division of the Red Bean Group), Shanghai Giant Limited, and the Shanghai Shin-Fu Wheelchair Company. The NRC and the MPG are acting as sponsors of this joint venture development agreement. This is a significant milestone in Palcan’s progress to date.Unfortunately, according to a helpful, PEV electric mobility shopping guide (PDF), electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters are not street nor sidewalk legal. So, what I had in mind was the type of PEV that is street legal, i.e., an electric-assisted bicycle, electric moped or scooter.
Under the agreement Palcan will supply two 300 watt stacks to be used to power fuel cell bicycles, two 1.5 kilowatt stacks for powering fuel cell scooters, and one 1.5 kilowatt stack for a fuel cell powered wheelchair. The three projects are scheduled for completion in September, 2003. Once completed, a demonstration of these new vehicles will take place in Shanghai, China’s center for economic development; and the proposed location for the 2010 World Exposition. In the future, Palcan will also provide one 5 kilowatt stack, for Shanghai 711 CSIC Institute to integrate into a boat engine system.
Nevertheless, whether street legal or not, another important consideration is safety. Just as with regular bicycles and motorcycles, people are less on the lookout. At the conclusion of the post about PEVs previously referenced, the author asks, “Anyone here using a PEV?” One sardonic respondent spoke to the safety issue:
Oh, if you ride a electric bike or even a regular one, always be sure to keep a DURABLE form of id on your person so if your remains get realy mangled it will still be readable… Either that or be sure to register your DNA. You would be surprised how many bike / moped riders are never identified.Even advocates for such “green vehicles” caution the rider to “be very aware of everything around you.” Sound advice, since “inherently these vehicles have a danger to them, just like riding bicycles or motorcycles.” I am unable to comply with such advice because I am only able to move my head a very little bit, so my peripheral vision sucks.
My current mobility dream is to get to medical appointments on my own. I say dream because visibility and mobility are not the only issues; pain-free travel or minimal pain when trying to get from point A to point B is even more important issue. Because of lower back pain, suspension is a critical consideration for me. I still would be operating a motor vehicle if I could tolerate the normal jostling encountered on the mean city streets where I live.
nguon http://jcwinnie.biz
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