China has developed its first hydrogen fuel-cell mopeds and has begun to export them, a pioneering step to compete in a new and niche market.

Shanghai Pearl Hydrogen Power Resource Technology has sent 30 fuel-cell mopeds overseas since May, according to Shi Tao, its marketing director.

This included 20 units to Spain through a local partner that served the World Expo in Spain this year. Others were shipped to the United States and Britain.

Shanghai Pearl, which was founded in 2006, is the first Chinese company to export fuel-cell bikes that will compete with similar models from German company Masterflex and Britain’s Intelligent Energy.

Fuel-cell e-bikes have a hydrogen container under the seat that is used to generate electricity to power the bike. Most of the electric bikes currently on the market are powered by lead-acid batteries.

Compared to traditional mopeds, the Chinese-made hydrogen-powered e-bikes offer longer riding distances and easier recharging. The fuel-cell moped can travel 70 to 80 kilometers with 50 grams of hydrogen after taking 20 minutes for one charge costing 2 yuan (29 US cents). A normal lead-acid e-bike usually runs out of power after 10 miles and takes four to six hours to fully charge the battery.

The hybrid fuel cell and battery bike gives users multiple recharging options allowing them to take advantage of opportunities to charge at their destination or along their route.

Shanghai Pearl has invested 2 million yuan in developi ng the fuel-cell e-bikes, Shi said.

The market has also attracted another company. Shanghai Shen-Li High-Tech is one of the first Chinese companies to develop and manufacture the fuel-cell products.


Currently, almost all the fuel-cell vehicles including the "Chao Yue" series of fuel-cell passenger cars and all "Qing Neng" series of fuel-cell city buses in China are powered by Shanghai Shen-Li’s fuel cells. It provided 11 fuel-cell car engines and several fuel-cell bus engines for the Beijing Olympics.

Fuel-cell technology is being closely watched by all car makers as an optional solution to energy shortages and environmental protection.

But problems of how to both ensure safety and generate sufficient power, along with high prices, prevented the mass production of green models.

"Since there is still not a major breakthrough for car makers to make fuel-cell cars both affordable for customers and saving energy, why not try the commercialization of fuel-cell technology in a different market," Shi said.

"Various industrial applications could help the technology to be more mature with lowering prices," he added.

The fuel-cell mopeds rely heavily on the hydrogen station, which is a major hurdle in the Chinese market. Overseas markets with hydrogen stations will be their top priority. The company aims to make further inroads in Germany, France, Italy, California and Canada.

A cheaper price is also making the Chinese-made fuel-cell mopeds more competitiv e.

Shanghai Pearl sold its mopeds at 1,950 euros (US$2,906) in Spain, higher than a normal e-bike price of 900 to 1,500 euros but a third to a quarter cheaper than models developed by foreign rivals.

"We are capable of further reducing the price to 1,500 euros or make it even as cheap as a normal e-bike. That will serve the market better," Shi said. The company aims to boost production to 1,000 units by 2011, up from the 100 units this year.

It is in talks with several venture capitalists in a bid to fund future expansion and strengthen engineering capability.


Shanghai Pearl is also developing tourist carts, fuel-cell cruisers and portable power generators and hopes to have sales revenue of 4 to 5 million yuan this year.

It is estimated that moped sales will reach 30 million units by 2010 including exports of some 5 to 6 million units.