Hydrogen-based hybrid power unit for light vehicles: Assessment of energy performance and radiated electromagnetic emissions

Electrification of transport (electro-mobility) is considered an essential strategy to meet Europe’s climate and energy challenges. Nonetheless, within the future perspective of living in smart cities, the interaction between electro-mobility devices and the surrounding environment, including humans, needs to be further investigated. In this study, a new hybrid power unit is developed and equipped on a commercial electric bike. The energy performance of this prototype are analyzed together with its contribution to radiated electromagnetic emissions. The former analysis demonstrated the remarkable fuel efficiency shown by the new power unit, i.e., a 140 km long distance can be covered at mean power, while the latter tests, undertaken within the reverberating chamber of the Università degli Studi di Napoli “Parthenope”, demonstrated that the hydrogen bike prototype is compliant with the actual European Union regulations in terms of electromagnetic radiations, and that long-term effects of its radiations on humans are negligible.