No one doubts that the future of mobility will involve business models that are more respectful of the environment. But it is more than evident that these business models are still not 100% clear for the industry, as Suzuki has just acknowledged to our colleagues at MCN.
The Japanese manufacturer has confirmed that it will continue working on internal combustion engines in the coming years (like Honda), but will do so from various approaches that seek to reduce emissions. To do so, it will invest its efforts and resources in synthetic fuel technology and also in hydrogen propulsion.
In fact, Suzuki is currently planning to continue working on this for at least the next decade. However, this decision does not mean that they are giving up on electric mobility.
So much so that by 2025, several electric scooters are expected to arrive in the different markets in which Suzuki is present. But even so, as we suspect happens with other brands, in the conversation they had with MCN they stated that they do not see electric propulsion as a unique and viable answer, even when we are not talking about small motorcycles, but rather higher performance machines.
Suzuki is not the only manufacturer that is not betting solely on the electric future
Literally, the manager of Suzuki’s Motorcycle Design Planning Department, Shinichi Sahara said about it: “In addition to the development of EVs, we believe that the development of ICEs with sustainable energy is necessary to fully realize our potential to create sustainable solutions.”
In fact, Suzuki’s success at the Suzuka 8 Hours with the Team Suzuki Carbon Neutral Challenge, which finished in eighth place, further boosts these ideas. They opted for bio-based engine oil, exhaust with catalytic converter, Bridgestone tyres made mostly from recycled material and 40% of their fuel also from bio-based sources.
It is, without a doubt, a firm path that may clash with the great general aspirations but, as we say, we suspect that many other manufacturers are considering it. After all, none of the four major Japanese brands nor the European ones have bet their future on electric cars at this time…
