Vetrix Electric Bike Gets Fuel Cell

An all electric, zero emissions scooter has been released by R.I.’s Vectrix Corp. Whilst the current model, runs on a nickel metal hydride battery pack, future versions could be powered by fuel cell technology from Southborough’s Protonex inc.

Energy conscious consumers will be able to reach speeds of 62mph. It has a range of 40-60 miles on a single charge. It can take up to three hours to generate a standard 110 volt battery.

The scooter is being launched in America by Vetrix.

Jeff Morrow director of marketing for Vetrix in the United States says. “At 62 mph top speed, and zero to 50 in 6.8 seconds, this is a real machine.”

About 150 bikes are being produced at a factory in Poland. Its research and development is being carried out in New Bedford.

Morrill also says they hope to develop additional zero-emission vehicles in future. Fuel cell technologies will play apart in this as well.

About two years ago Vetrix and Protonex with the Parker Hannafin Corp., demonstrated such a project. It was shelved so Vectrix could concentrate on the electric bike. Each company hopes to revisit this project in the first quarter of next year.

Vectrix was founded in 2006 and has so far raised $80 million through investors.