Kawasaki has conducted the first public display of their hydrogen-powered ICE motorbike, which was designed as part of an ongoing research project.
The hydrogen engine is based on the 998cc in-line-4 supercharged Kawasaki engine found on the H2 lineup. The motor has been upgraded to allow direct hydrogen injection into the cylinders.
According to Kawasaki, the chassis was specially designed to accommodate the on-board hydrogen fuel supply system and the hydrogen fuel canisters. It further states that the motor runs by generating combustion with hydrogen, which emits water as a byproduct and that the prototype emits moist air from the exhaust.
The company also said that hydrogen has a more responsive feel than petrol since it burns considerably faster and at a wider temperature range. Although more details on the bike’s performance and specs are not yet released, the H2 SX has 210 horsepower and 137 Nm of torque.
The project is part of Kawasaki’s commitment to and support of HySE, a joint research project involving several Japanese firms, like Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Toyota and Kawasaki. To produce small mobility vehicles, including bikes, that run on hydrogen, the research association is actively carrying out fundamental research on hydrogen engines, hydrogen filling systems and fuel supply systems
