Photo: original image by autoevolution
As a car company, Suzuki has been working really hard to put green technology on the map. In 2009, they showed the SX4 Fuel Cell Vehicle Concept on stage and quickly followed with many EVs and hybrids.
People think FCVs are expensive to buy and maintain, but a scooter could change all that, boasting the potential to bring costs down significantly. Not just any scooter will do though, because Suzuki chose to integrate the tech into one of the most famous maxis ever made, giving us a rival to BMW Motorrad's C evolution electric model.
The Burgman Fuel-Cell Scooter has been around for a very long time, having made its debut at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show in October 2009. We finally got a chance to check out the tech behind it during this year's EICMA show in Milan, where Suzuki showed the "guts" with an excellent cutaway display.
By combining the fuel cell with a large battery, the scooter is able to affectively control its electricity use. And thanks to the high levels of torque provided by the electric motor, acceleration is brisk. When the rider grabs the brakes, a generator is used to to transform the lost forward momentum into electricity that's then stored by the battery.
The fuel cell Burgman weighs "about 170kg", according to Suzuki. That's not much more than the petrol version, which comes in at 148kg dry. Officially, it will do about 220 miles per fuel tank, but that's only if you can keep it under around 32 km/h (20 mph).
We're not sure this complicated system is the way of the future, mainly because it does away with many of the features maxi scooter owners take for granted. But if the hydrogen fuel filling station infrastructure grows in the next few years, this Burgman could have a huge environmental impact.
This is the first time we're seeing the Burgman as well so we understand if you want to take your time and browse between the 44 photos in the gallery below.
The Burgman Fuel-Cell Scooter has been around for a very long time, having made its debut at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show in October 2009. We finally got a chance to check out the tech behind it during this year's EICMA show in Milan, where Suzuki showed the "guts" with an excellent cutaway display.
By combining the fuel cell with a large battery, the scooter is able to affectively control its electricity use. And thanks to the high levels of torque provided by the electric motor, acceleration is brisk. When the rider grabs the brakes, a generator is used to to transform the lost forward momentum into electricity that's then stored by the battery.
Should you buy one?
While on the outside, it still looks like a Burgman, the insides are all taken up by the powertrain tech. The fuel cell takes over all the space under the seat, so the Suzuki model's famous large storage space is all gone. The battery is located under the rider's bottom and a large Hydrogen storage container is located between his feet. Refueling is done using a receptacle installed where the gas cap would be.The fuel cell Burgman weighs "about 170kg", according to Suzuki. That's not much more than the petrol version, which comes in at 148kg dry. Officially, it will do about 220 miles per fuel tank, but that's only if you can keep it under around 32 km/h (20 mph).
We're not sure this complicated system is the way of the future, mainly because it does away with many of the features maxi scooter owners take for granted. But if the hydrogen fuel filling station infrastructure grows in the next few years, this Burgman could have a huge environmental impact.
This is the first time we're seeing the Burgman as well so we understand if you want to take your time and browse between the 44 photos in the gallery below.
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