Kawasaki’s first hybrid motorcycle model has a special design, capable of operating with an electric motor on the street and using an internal combustion engine on long distances and highways.

In July 2019, Kawasaki registered to protect its hybrid motorcycle design and started the project to develop this new model. November 2020, the Japanese brand posted a short video revealing its development process and philosophy on hybrid engines. Heading towards April 2021, the copyright image of Kawasaki’s 48V hybrid battery pack continued to be posted. And now, in October 2021, Kawasaki has officially announced the image of its first hybrid motorcycle.

Looking at the image above, it can be seen that the hybrid motorcycle has completely removed the plastic cover, but it is still easy to recognize that the car was developed from the Kawasaki Ninja 400 model based on equipment such as chassis, headlights. and exhaust pipe. Kawasaki has not yet confirmed this information, but it makes sense to develop a hybrid on a small displacement model due to some limitations on current hybrid technology.

In cars, it is quite easy for manufacturers to combine electric motors with internal combustion engines. However, with two-wheelers, the space to install a hybrid system is not so ideal. Therefore, it is much easier to integrate a hybrid system into a model with a neat 2-cylinder engine.

Right from the start of developing hybrid motorcycles, Kawasaki has clearly outlined the role of each element in the hybrid system. While an internal combustion engine with high power will be suitable for operating conditions on the highway, the electric motor will show its maximum ability when traveling in the inner city. In addition, when used on mixed roads, these two types of operation will combine, demonstrating the advantages of both in order to give users the best experience.

Of course, for these two powertrains to operate smoothly, the bike’s gearbox also needs to be tweaked to be compatible with the performance and operating habits of the user. According to Kawasaki, the gearbox of this hybrid motorcycle will be integrated with an automatic clutch system, a servo-motor shifter, and a button for the user to control.

Currently, many cities in Europe have started to adopt zero-emission policies. This means that only electric and zero-emission vehicles are allowed to operate there. Thus, the hybrid technology that Kawasaki offers will be the perfect choice for users to still be able to travel freely while maintaining the power and operating range of the vehicle.

It is known that Kawasaki continues to commit to launching at least 10 electric and hybrid motorcycle models by 2025, and will only sell these vehicles in developed markets by 2035.

Source: tinxe.vn