Kawasaki’s Decade-Long Electric Bike Project

[Hugh Janus]

Will we see the fruits of Kawasaki’s electric bike project anytime soon? (Kawasaki/)

Electric motorcycles have been making headlines for years now, but despite the publicity it’s still almost impossible to actually buy a convincing battery-powered motorcycle from a major manufacturer.

The Harley-Davidson LiveWire and BMW’s C-Evolution give early adopters a route to electric power, while small firms like Zero lead the way with their all-electric ranges, but we’ve yet to reach the point where two-wheeled EVs are a mainstream alternative to gas-powered machines. Despite the current lack of production options, a development battle is raging behind the scenes as major bike manufacturers work to ensure they aren’t left behind in electric bike technology.

Back in November, Kawasaki quietly wheeled its electric bike project into the public eye, putting a prototype sports EV on its stand at the EICMA show in Milan. Since then the firm has trickled out videos of the machine in action, but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s a new project; this work has been going on for a decade.

Kawasaki wheeled out an EV “project” prototype at last year’s EICMA show but made it clear it would not be a production model. (Kawasaki/)

Kawasaki’s own figures for its electric bike are a hint at its age. As with most electric bikes, it has two power figures—one set being the absolute peak that can be achieved for brief periods, the other a “continuous” maximum that can be sustained indefinitely without overheating the motor. Disappointingly, the absolute maximum for Kawasaki’s EV is pegged at 20kW (around 27 hp), while the continuous figure is 10kW (13.5 hp). In a world where you can walk into a Zero dealer and buy an electric SR/F or SR/S making a peak of 110 hp right now, those numbers seem a bit underwhelming for a prototype from a tech giant like Kawasaki.

Stated numbers for Kawasaki’s EV are far from impressive, which hints at the project’s longevity and prototype status. (Kawasaki/)

It’s not like the Kawasaki is a much smaller, lighter bike either. The firm says it weighs in at 483 pounds (just 2 pounds less than a Zero SR/F), and its range of 60 miles is around half as far as the Zero can manage on a charge. With numbers like those, it’s understandable that Kawasaki is at pains to point out this isn’t a machine that’s going into production; it simply wouldn’t stand a chance against the limited competition that’s already out there.

Patents from years back show older Ninja 300 bodywork, wheels, and other components, and Kawasaki itself has said there are no plans for a production EV in the near term. ( Japanese Patent Office/)

So what’s the point then?

The disappointing numbers that Kawasaki gives its electric prototype fall into perspective when it becomes clear how old this project is. Kawasaki’s first patents showing a bike similar to this were filed back in 2010 and detailed designs showing this very machine appeared in patents just a couple of years later. Carry-over components including the bodywork, wheels, brakes, and suspension are from the 2013-spec Ninja 300, further confirming its age. Perhaps if you consider it as an electric bike from 2013 rather than 2020, the figures for range, weight, and power aren’t as comprehensively outclassed as they seem now.

Multiple sources at Kawasaki including Yuji Horiuchi, president of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Motorcycle & Engine Company, have clearly stated that this bike isn’t for production. In fact, he went further, saying there are “no plans” for a production EV in the near future.

Older patent filings show battery and electronics removal from the EV project bike. The evolving technology is becoming more and more cost effective, and Kawasaki is likely waiting for the right time to roll it out. ( Japanese Patent Office/)

The reason for that is one of simple economics; at the moment it’s virtually impossible for a large motorcycle manufacturer to mass-produce an electric bike that will sell at a reasonable price and turn a profit. You either need to go niche and hope that a small number of buyers will be prepared to spend a lot to be early adopters—think Harley LiveWire—or target the low-cost, low-tech Chinese market for battery-powered scooters.

But the economics are constantly changing. Batteries and motors are getting better and cheaper while ICE-powered bikes are getting costlier as they’re forced to meet ever-stricter emissions limits. By keeping a group of engineers working on electric bike technology and testing designs and ideas, it means that when the price-to-performance ratio shifts enough to tip the balance of profitability to a point where it favors electric bikes, Kawasaki should be ready to go without having to start from scratch.

| 5.Kaw-EV-Racing.jpg | What’s interesting about Kawasaki’s project is that it contains a four-speed gearbox unlike the typical single speed found in most current electrics. A manual transmission allows a greater speed range and also allows the rider to have more input. (Kawasaki/)

Notably, Kawasaki’s solution includes a purpose-made four-speed gearbox between the electric motor and the front sprocket, giving an additional layer of control compared to the usual single-speed design that most electric bikes use. It’s there for rider engagement as much as any performance gain, making a bike that’s more appealing to riders raised on a diet of gasoline.

The firm’s European PR boss, Martin Lambert, said: “This is a vehicle which is really just testing the technology. It’s not going to go into production but it just shows that Kawasaki is looking at electric vehicles.

“Most electric bikes don’t have gearboxes, so you just turn them on, twist, and go, rather like a scooter, whereas this bike has got four gears. So you’ve got the electric power pack and the motor is connected to the gearbox. Firstly it will appeal to motorcyclists, because they want to still change gears. So that’s a good advantage and a crossover between gasoline engines and electric engines.

Electric vehicles are definitely in Kawasaki’s future, we just don’t know how far out. (Kawasaki/)

“The interesting thing about the testing was that it wasn’t just for durability and reliability, they were testing it for fun. They wanted to know whether the riders had a fun experience.” Check out the technology in this video.

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[Tym]

Team "Green" eh? lol PS whats up with the John Deere Green colour? How about yellow wheels....