Innovative two wheeler technologies for future mobility concepts

With the requirements of European Commission's White Book that demand emission-free city logistics in major urban areas until 2050, cargo bicycles may play a significant role for last mile deliveries. They require less space than vans and can be parked on the sidewalk. These electrically assisted bicycles, tricycles or quadracycles do not emit any local emissions and are capable to transport 50-250 kg of cargo. But, in topologically moved areas the capacity of conventional battery concepts constrains the transport range: delivery tours by bike can have a daily mileage up to 50-80 km. In the urge of finding energy carriers with a higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries hydrogen comes into the focus for innovative and sustainable cargo bike propulsion systems. This paper outlines the DLR activities to develop a versatile hydrogen fuel cell and its thermal management which suits the transport needs of commercial last mile deliveries with cargo bikes. First studies show that cargo cycles have high potentials not only in postal services but also for the growing courier and parcel service. Active thermal management systems to increase the range and the hill climb capability, the life time and the operational capability like shortening the refilling time are introduced in this paper.