Kawasaki is experimenting with different technologies to power the future of two-wheeled fun, and while I deeply enjoyed the mildly flawed Ninja Hybrid, I am intrigued by the company’s hydrogen-powered supercharged prototype. After testing in Japan for several months, the company brought its Ninja H2-based HySE hydrogen combustion bike to Le Mans for a demonstration run during the 24-hour motorcycle endurance race weekend.
The Ninja-based bike features special high-pressure hydrogen tanks where you’d normally find saddle bags, and while Kawasaki doesn’t list a horsepower figure for the machine, it should easily clear the standard H2’s 239.6 horsepower and 105 lb-ft of torque figures given hydrogen’s higher specific energy than gasoline.
Kawasaki tossed test rider Matthias Hoeppner on the bike and trotted him around the 2.566 mile Le Mans circuit for the gathered motorcycle-mad masses. While the lap was not timed, the prototype appears to be bigger and bulkier than a typical H2, but not really any slower. Kawasaki claims the engine is even more responsive than its gasoline-powered counterpart, because hydrogen burns quicker and with a wider combustion range than even high-octane fuels. The engine effectively only emits water vapor, making this a carbon-neutral riding experience. Will hydrogen take over as the fuel of the future for motorcycles?
Is hydrogen the future of motorcycles?
I, like a lot of other gearheads, like the idea of hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines. It’s the best of both worlds, providing a familiar riding experience to gasoline internal combustion, with the sound and vibration we all know and love. It’s possible that hydrogen will be one avenue that we pursue for low- or no-emission future riding, but it’s unfortunately significantly more energy intensive to manufacture and pressurize than any other form of propulsion.
Hydrogen combustion engines are only truly carbon neutral if the hydrogen was separated and pressurized using clean electricity from solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, or nuclear power, and it would be far more efficient to just put those electrons in a battery and power the bike on electricity at that point.
I’m not yet convinced that hydrogen is the future of riding, but I’m willing to be convinced. Kawasaki, let me ride your weird supercharged hydrogen bike so I can find out first hand. Have your people call my people.
