Isra-Mart srl:Suzuki's hydrogen scooter gets EU seal of approval

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Isra-Mart srl news:

Suzuki's Burgman fuel cell scooter has taken a major step towards commercialisation after its design was approved as safe to use on public roads in Europe, without requiring inspection and approval by individual member states.

Loughborough-based Intelligent Energy, which supplies fuel cells for the Burgman, announced yesterday that the machine has achieved Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA) by the UK's Vehicle Certification Authority, confirming that production samples of the design meet specified performance standards.

Intelligent Energy and Suzuki hailed the stamp of approval as a milestone for the industry as a whole, claiming the scooter has become the first fuel cell vehicle in the world to receive WVTA.

"We've been in touch with the Vehicle Certification Authority, and no record of any fuel cell vehicle receiving approval has been recorded before," a spokesman told BusinessGreen.

The decision is likely to prove significant as fears over the safety of hydrogen fuel tanks is often cited as one of the main barriers to fuel cell adoption.

Mr O Suzuki, chairman and chief executive of Suzuki Motors, said the company is now aiming to roll out the scooters across Europe, as long as governments gradually ramp up installation of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.

The company intends to release the Burgman in Europe in 2012, with general sales slated for 2015.

Although the price has yet to be decided, a spokesman said the companies are hoping to bring down the cost of technology to be in line with traditional petrol engine equivalents.

The news of the approval emerged the day after energy secretary Chris Huhne visited Intelligent Energy's headquarters to discuss the commercialisation and manufacturing of hydrogen fuel cell technology in the UK.