This new hydrogen-burning Kawasaki aims to deliver the sensory experience similar a petrol two-wheeler.
It is not just Toyota that is big on the hydrogen combustion game, as Kawasaki has recently showcased its own H2-burning bike prototype as well, during the Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race.
Dubbed as the world’s first public demonstration run of a hydrogen ICE motorcycle by a mass-production motorcycle manufacturer, this H2-combusting concept was the culmination of months of work by the bike maker, with this project first being kickstarted back in March of 2023.
Based on its Ninja H2 hyperbike (the coincidentally perfectly-named base for any hydrogen bike), this hydrogen-combusting prototype features a supercharged 998 cc four-cylinder engine, that has been modified to combust hydrogen that is directly injected into its combustion chamber. This bike also features a modified hydrogen fuel management system, in addition to being outfitted with hydrogen fuel canisters, which incidentally have been placed out back and have been designed to look like hard saddlebags.
The company has said for this prototype H2-fuelled Ninja H2 here delivers the sensory experience that is similar to any current petrol-powered bike, with the ‘rumble and pulsating sensation that riders love when twisting the throttle’. And while Kawasaki has not provided any concrete performance figures with this alternatively-fuelled two-wheeler yet, it has touted that the hydrogen combustion engine burns fuel quicker and under a wider range of operating conditions than a conventional ICE, giving better engine response.
Kawasaki has further added that with hydrogen combustion, this prototype avoids the limited ranges and long recharging times that currently hamper battery electric motorcycles. Emissions meanwhile for this H2-burning two-wheeler is also to be rather green too, as the bike maker says that its main exhaust emissions are water and a very small amount of carbon dioxide.
While still a prototype thus far, Kawasaki apparently has plans to put a hydrogen-powered motorcycle into production by the early 2030s. The bike maker has nevertheless cautioned that this stated timing and availability ‘may vary depending on the hydrogen fuel supply infrastructure and the status of legal regulations in each country’.
This hydrogen combustion two-wheeler comes as part of Kawasaki’s wider plans to develop alternative-fuelled motorcycles that include electric and electric hybrid powertrain options. The bike is a project being run as part of the Hydrogen Small Mobility and Engine Technology (HySE) program announced by the bike maker in the fall of 2023, for which its collaborative partners include other Japanese bike makers Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda.
