The MIT Electric Vehicle Team (MIT EVT), a student-run team on MIT’s campus, is partnering with Doosan Mobility Innovation (DMI) to build a hydrogen-powered motorcycle. The team members say they believe that battery-powered vehicles (BEVs) are a stepping-off point to hydrogen vehicles (FCEVs), which can solve the range issues of BEVs and address concerns surrounding lithium mining.

DMI is providing a DM15 fuel cell module that will be integrated into a motorcycle that will be designed and developed by the MIT EVT. The module uses hydrogen as a fuel source and converts it into electricity, producing only water vapor as a byproduct. Assuming green hydrogen production, the team says the technology is a promising step toward a fully zero-carbon footprint vehicle.

DMI’s DM15 fuel cell module is already in use in several applications, including drones, material handling, and backup power. The team says it offers several benefits over traditional power sources, including zero emissions, high efficiency, and low noise. The DM15 module, in particular, is capable of providing up to 1.5 kW of power output, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, including drones, robotics, and small vehicles.

This will be the first time the fuel cell module is integrated into a motorcycle, and the project will provide a real-world testing ground for the DM15 fuel cell module, enabling DMI to gather data and feedback to improve the module’s performance and durability, while allowing the MIT EVT to prove that hydrogen-powered vehicles can be practical, and safe, the team says.

MIT EVT also will be open-sourcing a lot of the resources from the design of their motorcycle. While the team won’t be open-sourcing the fuel cell technology itself, much of the design process and calculations will be available online in an effort to bring more companies, and individuals into the fuel-cell vehicle space.