Posted on 26th Sep 2010 @ 4:20 PM

LAS VEGAS--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Pedego®, Electric Bikes and SiGNa Chemistry have developed an ultra-high-performance range extender for electric bicycles. The announced battery-fuel cell hybrid system is compatible with all existing Pedego bicycles and batteries. For every 1.5 lbs. of weight a rider carries, an additional 700 watt-hours of energy is available (compared to ~350 watt-hours for an ultra-high performance lithium-polymer battery at a weight of 7 lbs.). The Pedego – SiGNa hybrid system utilizes the battery for peak conditions such as acceleration and hill climbing, while the fuel cell to extend the operating range of a Pedego bicycle by over 40 miles for each additional cartridge. Riders can carry additional cartridges which are real-time hot-swappable. A key innovation is the use of sodium silicide to liberate hydrogen from water as needed by the hybrid fuel cell. This process happens at a very low pressure of less than 30 psi (a soda can typically has 55 psi at room temperature).

“The Pedego line of electric bicycles provides a unique user experience of performance, style, and comfort. We are pleased to work with Pedego to extend power usage by three”

“With its award-winning technology, including inherently safe, air stable reactive metal powders, SiGNa continues to develop ground-breaking products for industrial applications,” says Michael Lefenfeld, President and CEO, SiGNa Chemistry, Inc. “By tripling the range of the Pedego bicycle, our hydrogen generation technology enables an unprecedented power solution for a transportation system with zero air contamination.”

“The Pedego line of electric bicycles provides a unique user experience of performance, style, and comfort. We are pleased to work with Pedego to extend power usage by three,” according to Andrew Wallace, Vice-President of Alternative Energy, SiGNa Chemistry, Inc.

ABOUT SiGNa CHEMISTRY

SiGNa Chemistry, Inc., a green chemical technology company, has developed a suite of heterogeneous reagents and catalysts that make reactive metals far more efficient, safer, and cost effective. These products are fundamental components used for general synthesis in the pharmaceutical, petrochemical, specialty chemical and environmental remediation industries as well as provide the ability to enable portable fuel cells by producing pure low-pressure hydrogen gas on demand from a safe, stable dry powder at room temperature. For more information, visit: http://www.signachem.com