Kawasaki Built A Motorcycle Powered By Hydrogen Combustion
Kawasaki debuted a new hydrogen-powered internal combustion motorcycle at the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race in Japan, making it the first manufacturer to do so. Research began in 2023, and the bike’s hydrogen motor is based on the same 998cc supercharged inline-four you’ll find in the high-powered Kawasaki Ninja H2.
Of course, some modifications had to be made to manage the hydrogen switch — namely to the direct injection system. The chassis had to be modified as well so that the bike could carry the hydrogen it now needs to burn.
In Kawasaki’s words, it sounds very similar to riding a traditional ICE-powered bike: “Hydrogen ICE motorcycles operate on hydrogen combustion, delivering the rumble and pulsating sensation that riders love when twisting the throttle, while emitting mainly water and a very small amount of CO2.”
Though this is a demo, Kawasaki seems to be considering the possibility of adding it to a repertoire of carbon-neutral solutions, saying that a functioning hydrogen ICE bike could be available “in the early 2030s.” Of course, hydrogen has its own challenges that will need to be solved within the next decade. Hydrogen fueling, at least in North America, is sparse and often unreliable.
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Chase is an automotive journalist with years of experience in the industry. He writes for outlets like Edmunds and AutoGuide, among many others. When not writing, Chase is in front of the camera over at The Overrun, his YouTube channel run alongside his friend and co-host Jobe Teehan. If he's not writing reviews of the latest in cars or producing industry coverage, Chase is at home in the driver's seat of his own (usually German) sports cars.
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