Japan dares experimental engine to beat EVs: It’s combustion, but zero emissions
In a move that opposes the ongoing trend of motorcycle manufacturers transitioning to electric motorcycles, Kawasaki Motorcycles in Japan has introduced an experimental motorcycle that uses hydrogen fuel. It was pleasant to see this innovative prototype demonstrated on the Suzuka track in Japan; it signalled a new level in using such forms of energy in cars.
Initially, Kawasaki plans to retrofit internal combustion engine technology to hydrogen operation to maintain the climactic feel and sound of motorcycles while providing solutions to existing environmental issues. The prototype development started in 2022.
Kawasaki became the first firm to publicize trialling of a motorcycle that uses hydrogen burning, proving itself as the industry leader in shifting towards green energy in the two-wheeler industry. The prospect of this unprecedented method may revolutionize the way motorcycles will be designed and manufactured sustainably.
Kawasaki Hydrogen ICE bike is based on the existing H2 SX platform, a fact that anyone familiar with the regular combustion version of that bike can probably quite readily see just by looking at it.
H2 (the element) takes up a lot of space. Kawasaki’s Hydrogen ICE H2-squared bike also must, by necessity, take up a lot of space. So much space, in fact, that from the back and overhead views, the shape of this bike resembles nothing so much as a colorblock rocketship out of a colorful, illustrated children’s book.
But Kawasaki Hydrogen bike is a test mule. A proof-of-concept, and a place to begin evolving future hydrogen two-wheeler technologies, if this is indeed a route that Kawasaki intends to continue pursuing.
Japanese automotive industry is collectively in the midst of a massive hydrogen-powered vehicle development push, and the Japanese government has infrastructure projects underway to make such development practical in the country.
From the piecemeal and haphazard way that EV infrastructure has been adopted in the countries where it’s slowly been making inroads, future scooters and motorcycles paths are not entirely clear.
Sources: Google News
