Los Angeles is a logical choice given IE's focus on hydrogen-powered transportation. LA is one of the major stops on California's growing Hydrogen Highway, as the smog-choked area seeks a new clean fuel as one route away from its history of transportation-caused pollution. Other enticements include the region's government agencies, such as the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which have a history of support for small companies and clean vehicle innovations. At the state level Governor Schwarzenegger recently asked the state legislature for $54 million to continue building the highway.

New to America, IE was born out of government-sponsored university research in the United Kingdom. As CEO Harry Bradbury tells the story, the company's proprietary began literally in the basement of Loughborough University in Leicestershire in the UK some 15 years ago.

Intelligent Energy's newly-introduced ENV motorbike is powered by a one-kilowatt fuel cell that gives it a top speed of 50 mph and a range of at least 100 miles.

The researchers there developed a new approach to fuel cell technology, creating a compact Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell that didn't require a cooling plate and used stainless steel in place of some more exotic metals. Other technologies that later became a part of IE included to an innovative steam methane reforming technology that promises to profitably produce hydrogen from sources such as biomass or hydrocarbon fuels.

The ENV gets its power from an attractively packaged fuel cell "Core," which can be removed and used to power other electrical devices.

The private company, Intelligent Energy, was formed in 2001, immediately acquiring the R&D company that had prototyped the fuel cell products. In 2003, IE added Element One Enterprises, an American company with fuel processing, hydrogen generation and hydrogen refueling technology expertise.

Finally, in 2004, the company absorbed MesoFuel of New Mexico, a U.S. company that was developing micro-devices for the conversion of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons into hydrogen.

Prior to refueling several vehicles, including a Daimler-Chrysler F-Cell and General Motors HydroGen3 fuel cell vehicle, the president proclaimed that they represented the beginning of fantastic technology. "Hydrogen is the wave of the future," he said, adding, "We're too dependent on foreign sources of energy today, and one way to diversify away from hydrocarbons is to use hydrogen."

For its first commercial fuel cell product, IE has chosen is the ENV, a subtle integration of transportation fuel cell and remote power generation capabilities. The 50-mph motorbike runs on IE's one-kilowatt PEM fuel cell "Core," which can be removed from the bike and used to power remote electrical devices. Onboard hydrogen storage is in a two-liter, 3000-psi cylinder.

A short ride on the sleek-looking bike (penned by Seymourpowell product design) revealed the classic quick acceleration of an electric bike coupled with more of a motorcycle feel because of the added weight of four 12-volt lead acid storage batteries. Total weight of the bike is 176 pounds. The 6:1 direct belt drive delivers the 6 kW 48V brush motor's energy to the rear wheel.

For fuel, IE expects that the bike's carbon composite cylinders will be able to be refilled at any of California's 100 Hydrogen Highway stations planned to be built during the next five years. Possibly in the interim, and definitely in the long-term, they foresee IE's reformer technology being used to provide home refueling (and possibly home power).

The company, which envisions itself a technology licenser, is in discussions with both existing and contract bike manufacturers to produce the ENV. It hopes to launch the bike at a retail price of $6,000 in limited volumes next year. Eventually, Bradbury said he hopes to see a 10,000-unit per year volume and even lower unit prices.

The company's shoebox-size reformer technology also should be ready to go to market within a year, Bradbury added.

Meanwhile, after the move to Los Angeles, the company plans a "reverse merger" in order to go public without going through the IPO process, according to Bradbury. He said this course of action, rather than a public offering (which they investigated initiating a year ago) will allow for more control by existing and ongoing investors. It also avoids the scrutiny of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and does not typically raise much additional capital, although Bradbury said this was not a concern. He added that the company's current "burn rate" of $10 million per year was sustainable based on current assets and revenue generation.

ENV Motorbike specifications
Motor	6 kW, 48V Brush (model LEM-170)
Fuel Cell	1 kW Intelligent Energy air-cooled
Hydrogen Storage	Hydrogen Storage
Hydrogen Energy	2.4 kWeh
Hydrogen Refuel Time	Less than 5 minutes
Storage Battery	4 x 12V Lead-acid connected in series
Top Speed	50 mph
Range	At least 100 miles
Weight	176 lbs.
Cooling	Fan-assisted, air-cooled
Transmission	6:1 direct drive belt
Frame	Sand-cast aerospace aluminum
Bike/Core Design	Seymourpowell
Estimated retail price	$6,000
Estimated retail delivery	2006 (Limited volume)