For CanWest News Service

The Warwick hotel was built in 1926 by William Randolph Hearst ostensibly -- rumour has it -- to house his mistress. Over the years, it has been a favourite of celebrities, including Elvis, the Beatles, Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant (who lived there for 12 years) and Marilyn Monroe. Their photos are on the wall, not far from my driving route.
Far more remarkable, however, is the motorcycle I was riding. The ENV (Emissions Neutral Vehicle) is the world's first hydrogen fuel cell motorcycle. The 80-kilogram, futuristic-looking bike is powered by a one-kilowatt fuel cell married to an electric battery to produce six kilowatts -- enough to propel it to its 80 km-h top speed in about 12 seconds....

Like all electric motors, maximum torque is available from a standstill, so it accelerates from zero to 30 km-h in about four seconds.

Higher speeds (perhaps up to 160 km-h) are possible, but the ENV (pronounced "envy") was built to showcase the technology in a user-friendly package.

It has one gear (direct drive from the electric motor to the rear wheel) and is as easy to ride as a moped -- just twist the throttle and go.

Unlike a moped, however, the ENV emits just water vapour, and the only sound when it's running is the low hum of the fuel cell's two fans -- like a small humidifier. The fuel cell, or CORE as it's officially called, is the size and shape of a computer hard drive tower. At 18 kilograms, it can be easily removed from the bike and set on the ground, humming quietly.

It's easy to imagine a future when you could drive the ENV to the lake, remove the CORE to run your boat and then use it again to power your cottage -- all the while serenaded with bird song and wind in the trees and not the drone of a loud engine.
The ENV has a range of 160 kilometres, depending on how heavy you are on the hydrogen. It generates power during coasting, so it's possible to stretch the range a little.

The hydrogen to fill the tank costs about $3.50. And there's the rub -- like all hydrogen-powered vehicles, the problem is the accessibility of hydrogen. It's just not available -- yet.

There are seven stations in Canada (two in Vancouver, one in Victoria and four in Toronto), says Richard Frye, program director for Fuel Cell Infrastructure at the Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance (a branch of Natural Resources Canada).

The stations are for demonstration or experimental purposes and are not accessible to consumers.