Kawasaki is determined to continue revolutionizing the motorcycle sector. Since bringing back the “turbo” models with their Supercharger (supercharged) has not been enough, we recently have their first two hybrid motorcycles on the market.
The Ninja 7 Hybrid and the Z7 Hybrid are already on the market and, here in Spain, they have been the first motorcycles to obtain the ECO label from the DGT. But beyond that milestone, it seems that Kawasaki is preparing to go one step further and implement hybrid technology in more models in its range.
At least that is what emerges from the patents presented by Kawasaki shown by the CycleWorld colleagues, and which deal with how to solve the puzzle of housing a gasoline engine, a battery, a combustion engine and a thermal engine, all in the same motorcycle. And that challenge is immense and grows when on the motorcycle, as would be the case of a custom motorcycle, it is so limited.
In fact, although the Z7 and Ninja 7 hybrids are different motorcycles, deep down they share the chassis, so once the initial work was done “only” we had to focus on the aesthetic change.
However, speaking of different models, it will no longer be possible to continue with that philosophy, and they have had to look for quite striking solutions. In the case of what would be the Hybrid Eliminator, the battery is taken to the fuel tank area. As we say, on this type of motorcycle you have to make a living.
The solution of the new Kawasaki hybrids is quite peculiar
Curiously, and although on a trail bike like the Versys the problem is not the same, they have decided to keep the battery right at the top of the engine, let's say where the cylinder ends, to mount the air box below. But the most striking thing is not this but the place where the gasoline tanks have been placed, because with the electrical part taking its place we have to look for other locations.
Well, in the case of the Eliminator Hybrid it would not have one gas tank but rather there would be two, and they would be connected to each other. The most striking thing is that they would be in the same area as the battery, but making the “deposit area” wider. For the Versys the solution is more conventional, and although it also widens the tank to gain the lost capacity, it will continue with a single tank that will be in the same area that we are used to.
And if in a car the hybrid system can be a headache, on a motorcycle you have to demonstrate superior ingenuity. Because the motorcycle must remain functional, it cannot gain weight and space is much more limited.
A challenge in which Kawasaki engineers have worked hard and that highlight the Japanese firm's commitment to more environmentally friendly technology.
