I’ve seen the future, and it’s black and white and powered by a fuel cell. Imagine a world where vehicles run silently and there are no black clouds of pollution. The reality is getting closer by the day and it could actually be good fun.

The ENV (Emissions Neutral Vehicle) is the world’s first fully functioning hydrogen fuel cell motorbike and it tells a fantastic story of British innovation. The Loughborough-based Intelligent Energy has dedicated more than 10 years to the development of fuel cell technology. Working with Seymourpowell, a firm of product designers, it has come up with the ENV motorbike — a green and clean hydrogen-powered bike.

Fuel cells aren’t a new idea — there are even fuel cell buses running in London. The basic principle is that during an electrochemical reaction, hydrogen and oxygen produce water and electricity. The oxygen is taken from the air and the hydrogen can be sourced from any hydrocarbon, such as oil or natural gas, or even renewable sources such as bioethanol, which can be derived from sugar cane. The water by-product is hardly noticeable but for a gentle vapour expelled from the fuel cell.

The extraction of hydrogen from a hydrocarbon can be done in various ways. Some will produce pollution, but in a very small amount compared with the conventional combustion engine. Also, any such pollution can be contained wherever the extraction is taking place, probably in an industrial plant, whereas our vehicles release their fumes directly into the atmosphere. This technology has implications that stretch from powering bikes and cars to powering a family home.

The ENV is a perfect prototype to illustrate these exciting possibilities. As a motorbike it really is fun, but it’s something more than that too. It’s part of a whole clean lifestyle because the cell can be lifted out of the bike and used to power something else as and when required.

Usually, when we think of similar vehicles, they’re hybrid versions that run on a combination of conventional fuel and batteries. Often they’re either ridiculously futuristic in design or just a modified existing vehicle. The purpose-built ENV is refreshingly different. It does have a battery pack on board, but it’s really there just to enhance acceleration. The heart of the bike is the fuel cell, which looks as cool as the bike. Somehow the designers have managed to make ENV look like it’s from the set of Star Wars and it sat quite at home amid the swanky shops down the quayside in Monaco.

The first thing that struck me about it was the noise, or lack of it. There are no clunking gears, rumbling exhaust notes or rattling of a chain. At most it’s as loud as a computer. As a passionate biker I expected to miss these familiar noises but oddly enough I didn’t.

The fuel cell sits where the petrol tank would be, and because the bike is a featherweight 80kg, it’s slightly top heavy. In terms of handling, this didn’t prove to be a problem. Provided there’s a hydrogen filling station handy, refuelling takes moments. The problem is there aren’t any, though the first one is due to open this month in Hornchurch, Essex. Intelligent Energy is also working on hydrogen cylinders that can be stored at home for refuelling.

The estimated running cost is £3 to travel for up to four hours or 100 miles, although I doubt whether the ENV would be used for such long trips. It’s much more suited as an urban runabout. It won’t yet replace combustion-engine motorbikes for hardcore fans like me but it’ll definitely attract non-bikers — it’s a twist-and-go that feels light and easy.

Try to imagine a supermoto-styled mountain bike that you don’t have to pedal. Now add a silent, smooth power that’s kind to the environment and you’d be almost close. With the batteries and fuel cell working together, the ENV can deliver 6kW of power, equivalent to about 8bhp. The strange thing, however, is that because there isn’t a power curve, the torque — 100 lb ft — is instantly and constantly available. The ENV isn’t blisteringly quick, the top speed being a modest 50mph, and it takes 12.1sec to get there from standing, but it is a practical commuting machine.

In addition to the comfortable weirdness of the power delivery, there’s no engine braking either. Snap the throttle shut and the bike just glides onwards — it feels like freewheeling on a pushbike. As a result the existing brakes could do with being stronger. The rear is adequate but the front brake is spongy and you really need to grab a fistful of both to stop quickly. (Because there’s no clutch, both brakes operate from pushbike-style levers on the handlebars.)

But this is what a prototype is all about. Illustrating a concept and listening to the public response before going into mass production. For example, I suspect the bike we’ll see for sale within the next year or so will have improved suspension over the ENV I rode. The rear shock is cleverly hidden within the swingarm, but the front forks seemed basic and none too sturdy. The designers may need to stiffen them to improve handling, especially when cornering.

And, of course, it’ll have lights, indicators and mirrors. But as it stands, the ENV is fun, and at the risk of sounding like my grandma, it’s good, clean-living fun.

VITAL STATISTICS

Model Intelligent Energy ENV
Motor 48V DC
Power 6kW (8hp)
Torque 100 lb ft
Fuel 100 miles on one fuel cell
Performance 0-50mph: 12.1sec
Top speed 50mph
Price £3,000 estimated
Verdict Eco-friendly runabout of the very near future