Meet Hydra, an e-bike with a difference. Unlike traditional electric motorcycles that rely on a powertrain that pulls energy from a lithium-ion battery, Hydra offers an alternate, much more experimental solution – hydrogen fuel cells. Although still in its infancy, hydrogen fuel cells promise absolutely clean energy. Unlike gasoline-powered engines, the fuel cells have zero harmful emissions, and unlike traditional lithium-ion battery EVs, hydrogen fuel cells do away with toxic battery acids that can potentially wreak havoc on the environment if not disposed of properly. In fact, when fueled with pure hydrogen, the only by-products are heat and water (hence the name Hydra), making the technology a zero-emission, sustainable power source.
Designers: Anton Guzhov, Anton Brousseau & André Taylforth
Although the technology itself is rather fascinating, what’s more appealing here is the designers’ treatment of the motorcycle, giving it an entirely distinct new form factor to hat-tip the fact that this isn’t your average gas-powered vehicle. The Hydra is undeniably cyberpunk, with the clever use of straight lines to define forms and curves only to round off edges. The bike isn’t lithe or aerodynamic, but rather has an almost robotic appeal with its affinity for straight lines and simple geometric shapes. Hydra’s front is dominated by a large block which serves as the hydrogen fuel cell. The engine sits right below the cantilever seat, powering the rear wheel directly.
The Hydra sports a beautiful translucent fairing, which reveals the complexities inside and provides the perfect contrast against the other carbon fiber components used around the e-bike.
A look at the Hydra under its fairing gives a better idea of its underlying tech. Even for a motorcycle that’s entirely conceptual at the moment, the level of detail and planning gone into executing this design is just staggering.
