At the Suzuka 8 Hours, one of the most prestigious events in the world of motor racing, Kawasaki showed its hydrogen-powered motorcycle in motion for the first time, which had already been seen in December, a significant step forward in the field of sustainable mobility and decarbonisation, issues that are increasingly relevant in the automotive industry.
A common struggle
The challenge of decarbonization sees car and motorcycle manufacturers engaged in the search for alternative solutions to fossil fuels. Electrification through batteries or fuel cells is one of the main ways, but hydrogen power is emerging as an alternative. This type of system allows the internal combustion engine to be kept alive, taking advantage of decades of technological development without the polluting emissions of traditional fossil fuels: in fact, only water vapor is produced at the exhaust.
It is part of the Hyse consortium
Kawasaki has invested heavily in hydrogen research, addressing not only the complexities of engine chemistry and physics, but also those of fuel production, transportation and distribution. The company is part of Hyse, a consortium formed in May 2023 with Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda and Toyota to develop hydrogen engines for small vehicles such as motorcycles. At the Suzuka 8 Hours, Kawasaki unveiled a bike based on the Ninja H2’s 998cc supercharged inline-four engine, modified for direct hydrogen injection. The hydrogen tanks are housed in the side cases and can be swapped out in seconds for refueling. The technology could become a reality by 2030, if the necessary refueling infrastructure is developed.
