As the electrification of cars accelerates, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which handles motorcycles, has announced a new goal to make most of the motorcycles to be launched in developed countries into electric-powered and hybrid vehicles by 2035.
On the 6th, Kawasaki Heavy Industries announced the future business policy of its subsidiary that handles motorcycles, and in this, it clarified new goals for the electrification of motorcycles.
First, by 2025, we will introduce more than 10 types of hybrid vehicles, such as EVs, which run only on batteries and motors, such as electric vehicles, and hybrid vehicles equipped with both engines and motors.
On top of that, by 2035, most of the motorcycles to be launched in developed countries will be of these two types, and we aim to eliminate motorcycles that run only on gasoline engines as much as possible.
In anticipation of a carbon-free society, we have taken the lead in electrification, but on the other hand, we are also pursuing research on new engines that use hydrogen as fuel.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries President Yasuhiko Hashimoto said, "For motorcycle users, the experience of engine sound and vibration is very important. We want to keep the fun of such motorcycles and respond to the carbon-neutral era." ..
In the field of automobiles, the development of electric vehicles such as EV = electric vehicles and hydrogen engines is progressing, but it is likely that they will become active in the field of motorcycles in the future.
Manufacturers also hurry to electrify motorcycles
The electrification of motorcycles is not as widespread as that of automobiles, but manufacturers are rushing to respond as the momentum for decarbonization increases.
In July, Yamaha Motor announced a goal to increase the number of motorcycles that run only on batteries and motors, such as EVs = electric vehicles, to 20% in 2035 and 90% in 2050.
Suzuki is also developing it, and although the timing has not been clarified, it has clarified the policy to launch it in Asia first.
Meanwhile, Honda has developed a new type of small electric motorcycle that uses a replaceable battery and started selling it last year.
Currently it is only for corporations, but we are considering selling it to the general public in the future.
On the other hand, in the development of "batteries," which are the key to electrification, cooperation among companies is progressing.
In March, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries agreed to unify battery standards.
After unifying standards such as battery durability, safety, and weight among the four companies, we are aiming to introduce a replaceable system that allows batteries to be replaced and operated at charging stations set up in urban areas. ..
According to the summary of each company, four Japanese manufacturers have nearly half of the share in the world market, and it seems that the focus will be on whether or not they can lead the electrification.