As you know we here at ScooterNova magazine are very much fans of the internal combustion engine. And despite the odds, we remain ever the optimists! For example, some of you may recall that while others repeated the false mantra that 2-strokes were banned (!), we posted a blog about new 2-stroke motorcycles being developed (click here).
British Scooter Development
Many years ago, around 2011, I recall a project involving students at Loughborough University here in the UK who were developing a version of the Suzuki Burgman scooter that was powered using a hydrogen fuel cell. This was basically an electric motor using hydrogen to create the electricity, hence no batteries to recharge.
Hydrogen ICE
In 2023 Suzuki themselves announced an experimental Suzuki Burgman scooter that used hydrogen as a direct fuel for its engine, instead of petrol. This was based on the Burgam 400 engine and showcased the company’s departure from using hydrogen solely as a fuel cell for an electric motor.
Big Bikes
Earlier this week Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan announced what they claim is the world’s first public demonstration run of a hydrogen ICE (internal combustion engine) motorcycle by a mass-production motorcycle manufacturer at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan.
The hydrogen ICE motorcycle was designed and built as part of research that began in March 2023, with test runs starting this year, culminating in the public demonstration run. Mounted in the machine is a hydrogen engine based on the 998 cc in-line four cylinder supercharged engine found in Kawasaki’s Ninja H2 motorcycle, with modifications made to allow direct injection of hydrogen fuel into the cylinders. The motorcycle’s chassis was designed to accommodate hydrogen fuel canisters and a hydrogen fuel supply system on-board.
Kawasaki tell us, “Hydrogen ICE motorcycles run on hydrogen combustion, producing the rumble and pulsating sensation that riders enjoy when twisting the throttle, while emitting mainly water.” (and apparently a minuscule amount of engine oil is burnt too).
Kawasaki Motors is a full member of HySE (Hydrogen Small mobility & Engine technology), a research association founded by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Kawasaki Motors, Ltd., Suzuki Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. in May 2023 for the purpose of basic research on hydrogen engines for small mobility vehicles.
The company press release also states, “In order to further strengthen the Kawasaki brand, Kawasaki Motors will provide products and services that meet the needs of our customers and society, including efforts toward achieving carbon neutrality, as we challenge ourselves to examine all possibilities in pursuit of the happiness and joy of all those whose lives Kawasaki touches.”
For those counting green beans, emerging from the exhaust pipe is basically pretty much just warm water. And of course there is no need to mine rare minerals on the other side of the planet to produce batteries that will forever need a supply of energy to charge them.
On the flip-side processes are required to produce hydrogen, ship and store it, although this is apparently greener than refining petrol and producing batteries.
Nothing is perfect of course, but from our point of view what Kawasaki are doing here is proving that the world doesn’t necessarily have to resort to using only electric vehicles in the future. Sure they have their place as anyone who remembers the milk floats doing their rounds in the 60s and 70s knows, but there is still more – especially for those of us who enjoy the thrill of riding a bike with an internal combustion engine…
You can watch Kawasaki’s video here:
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