Taking inspiration from the Toyota Prius - which arguably took the first mass-market steps towards electric in the four-wheel industry - Kawasaki has been working on a Hybrid powertrain, so often shunned by manufacturers due to the negating benefits around economy, power and weight. Moreover, Kawasaki isn’t just relying on a purely electric future. Kawasaki has previously shown a prototype during various stages of development, but the most recent sighting during a demo at the Suzuka 8 Hours shows an almost finished product hinting at some radical packaging solutions with the battery cells discreetly integrated into the design, rather than tacked on as a single ungainly lump. The first of these is due to appear at EICMA 2022 in the form of what appears to be a small 125cc-equivalent naked motorcycle similar to the Z125. Kawasaki has already announced it plans to gradually swap out its ICE-powered range for alternative methods over the next decade, with as many as ten new eco-minded models set to be launched between now and 2025. Of the so-called ‘Big Four’ from Japan, Kawasaki has communicated the most defined road map for an alternative fuelled future and - in deference to its more hesitant compatriots - looks set to take on the responsibility of being one of motorcycling’s most active electric trail blazers over the next couple of years. While some are certainly better further down the development line than others, these are the electric motorcycles what we can expect to see soon from each major manufacturer. It’s a figure that will continue to grow as public perception - and laws - continue to shift towards a greener future with the next couple of years set to see some big names ‘charging’ into the EV market. However, this is up on the 2.3% share from 2020, while history was made last year when the Super Soco CPx scooter became the first electric model to crack the overall top ten in the sales charts. It’s no easy task and public resistance is reflected in electric powered two-wheelers (PTWs) accounting for just over 5% of the UK market in 2021 compared with 18% of all new cars sold last year being electric/plug-in hybrid. Quietly, of course.Įmbrace or ignore it as much as you want, the decision by legislators to set a 2035 target for the phasing out of all new motorcycles equipped with an internal combustion engine (ICE), there is little more than a decade for manufacturers to convince you that zero-tailpipe emission riding can deliver the same sensory thrills as today’s conventionally fuelled machines. Well, it’s been coming for a while but in 2022 the whole market is gathering pace. It’s official, the electric motorcycle revolution is coming.
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