Met Police to trial fuel cell Suzuki Burgmans

ELECTRIC motorcycles are the future. Or are they?

Suzuki seems to be increasingly serious about an alternative zero-emission technology: the fuel cell.

The bike maker is supplying seven hydrogen-powered ‘Burgman Fuel Cell’ scooters to the Metropolitan Police.

The scooters are to be used from today in an 18-month trial aimed at contributing to cleaner air in the capital and testing the Burgman Fuel Cell’s ‘suitability for the various roles the scooters could perform,’ a force spokesman said.

The Burgman Fuel Cell was first revealed by Suzuki in 2009 but is not yet available to buy.

Developed in partnership with British fuel cell technology firm Intelligent Energy, it’s a hydrogen-electric hybrid with peak power of around 11hp and a claimed range of 75 miles.

They’ll be used for road policing by community support officers and topped-up via a private ‘mobile re-fuelling facility’.

Commander Neil Jerome for Territorial Policing said: “Being the UK’s largest police service we constantly have vehicles on the roads and therefore it is our aim to make our fleet as clean as we can, whilst maintaining operational capability.

“We are thankful to Suzuki and our partners and look forward with optimism about this trial. Through collaborative partnerships and innovative testing such as this, we can gain real-life experience of how we can progress our ambition and create a cleaner fleet that will benefit London and the service we provide.”

Suzuki GB Managing Director Nobuo Suyama said: “Suzuki are extremely honoured to be able to showcase the Burgman Fuel Cell and gain valuable feedback from this important trial with the Met. Operational data from the trial will be gathered and used to support Suzuki zero emission vehicle development programmes

“Deploying these vehicles into service with the Met marks a significant milestone in the extensive development of this ground-breaking technology.”