Kawasaki is Developing a Hybrid Motorcycle
We’ve been waiting for some time now for electric motorcycles to take the next big leap towards the mainstream. Thanks to the longstanding efforts of manufacturers like Zero, and Harley-Davidson‘s new push toward electrification led by the LiveWire, we’re getting closer to seeing that happen. Kawasaki, meanwhile, may be looking in a different direction, having filed a patent application for a hybrid motorcycle.
The newly published patent application was originally filed with Japan’s patent office in December 2017 and subsequently filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office a year later. It describes a motorcycle equipped with both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. The patent illustrations show a parallel hybrid system, meaning the engine and the motor work together to deliver power to the rear wheel. The patent explains, however that the concepts can also work in a series hybrid mode, where only the electric motor provides driving power and the gas guzzling engine acts as a range extender. A split hybrid system where either the motor or engine produces motive power is also described.
The patent addresses one of the key concerns about hybrid motorcycles: how to arrange all the various parts in a compact form. Hybrid cars offer multiple options for engineers to position the engine, motor, transmission, fuel tank and batteries; on a motorcycle, the options are rather limited.
According to the patent, the AC electric motor (#4 in the diagrams) and combustion engine form a single unit along with the transmission, all sharing the same casing. The battery (#21) is located above the engine between the frame spars where a conventional fuel tank would normally be found. In this configuration, the tank (#15) can be mounted to the side of the seat or, alternatively, outside the frame beside the battery. In either case, the fuel tank is kept to the left side of the motorcycle, balanced with a coolant tank on the right side. In theory, this keeps all the heaviest parts close to the center of gravity.
While the patent proves that Kawasaki has been working on a hybrid motorcycle, it doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll see one any time soon. Kawasaki has also filed multiple different patents for electric motorcycles over the years, and none have seen the light of day as yet, so don’t hold your breath for a production hybrid from Kawasaki.
Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
More by Dennis Chung
Comments
Join the conversation
Maybe it's a cover your bases type thing, as it seems the heavy hitters are finally ready to move into the electric MC market. I expect to see a lot of electric models from the Japanese by the mid 2020's.
Hybrid system, just like in cars and even Ferrari’s, make it easier to pass emission tests which are becoming very tough especially Euro 5 in 2020. VRod, Hayabusa and others disappeared because of Euro 4. Harley Sportster, with its 30 year old engine, will probably not pass Euro 5 for European sales. Maybe we will see the new 1250 water cooled engine.