Honda's Building a Hybrid Motorcycle
By Chuck Squatriglia
September 30, 2008 | 5:41:38 PM

Honda Motor Co., the world's leading motorcycle manufacturer, is developing a gas-electric motorcycle that would use a hybrid drivetrain much like the one in the forthcoming Honda Insight, and it could be in showrooms within two years.

Startups like Zero Motorycles and Brammo already offer electric motorcycles, but the major manufacturers have been slow to join the party because they've considered the engineering challenges too great for mass-market bikes. But according to Japan's Mainichi Times, Honda says it's figured out how to make the drivetrains work without breaking the bank.

Not only does the company think it can make an electric engine small enough to fit in the narrow confines of a motorcycle frame, but it plans to offer full electric bikes as early as 2011.

The Times didn't offer a lot of detail but says Honda will offer the hybrids in displacements ranging from 50 cc to 1,000 cc, and the gas-electric drivetrain will offer a 50 percent improvement in fuel economy. Sharing components with Honda's hybrid cars will cut down on production costs.

The idea isn't as crazy as it might sound. Both Honda and Yamaha are working on electric motorcycles. Honda plans to use lithium-ion batteries that will provide a range of about 60 miles. Although that's not nearly enough for a day of touring or canyon carving, it's more than enough for commuting around town. Yanking the gasoline engine out of something like the Cub -- the best-selling vehicle ever -- and replacing it with an electric motor seems like a no-brainer. Yamaha plans to have its e-bikes on the market by 2010.

It'll be interesting to see what direction Honda takes with hybrid motorcycles. Will it go for maximum efficiency like the Insight, or will it use the torque provided by an electric motor to boost acceleration like Mercedes-Benz and BMW are doing with the S 400 BlueHybrid and 7-Series Active Hybrid luxo-barges? And will we see a gas-electric version of the venerable Interceptor (pictured)?


http://blog.wired.com/cars/200....html

 

Bleh, the old Cubs could get close to 200mpg without any fancy electric motors. The newest Cub in Japan gets over 300mpg.

 

hmm..i dont think it safer on the street.

even with loud exhaust, people seems to no care

 

seeing as how battery acid and other chemicals exposed to the environment by batteries that are thrown away are far worse than exhaust gases, it seems stupid to put more batteries on the road which will go bad and eventually be thrown away. add to that most riders only replace their bike because 1. they want the newest looking/ latest technology which is why we get new designs every 2-3 years for most bikes. 2. they crash it and need another. thats a lot of batteries getting thrown away and polluting. or how about how the battery will have to be replaced every 3-5 years and with the latest technology batteries, itll cost more for a new battery then the bike will be worth so why not just get rid of the bike and get a new one. if they make the vfr in an electric only version, they are taking away the greatest part about it, the v4!!!

also, i believe there is a bill in california that all electric cars and maybe hybrids too have to have speakers that make car engine sounds so that deaf people know that there is a car.

electric motors are great, but with the current technology we have, they just arnt good for vehicles. i say stick with internal combustion just find a cheaper, more efficient fuel that can be bought from anywhere in the world other than the middle east.

 

This I gotta see. Hopefully its an actual motorcycle and not a scooter.

 

If it is the pictured one, that is pretty sick...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lude-Conduct &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If it is the pictured one, that is pretty sick... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Looks like a VFR to me

I still think a small gas engine is the way to go, I don't see electrics becoming practical enough for everyday use.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by that one guy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">seeing as how battery acid and other chemicals exposed to the environment by batteries that are thrown away are far worse than exhaust gases, it seems stupid to put more batteries on the road which will go bad and eventually be thrown away. add to that most riders only replace their bike because 1. they want the newest looking/ latest technology which is why we get new designs every 2-3 years for most bikes. 2. they crash it and need another. thats a lot of batteries getting thrown away and polluting. or how about how the battery will have to be replaced every 3-5 years and with the latest technology batteries, itll cost more for a new battery then the bike will be worth so why not just get rid of the bike and get a new one. if they make the vfr in an electric only version, they are taking away the greatest part about it, the v4!!!

also, i believe there is a bill in california that all electric cars and maybe hybrids too have to have speakers that make car engine sounds so that deaf people know that there is a car.

electric motors are great, but with the current technology we have, they just arnt good for vehicles. i say stick with internal combustion just find a cheaper, more efficient fuel that can be bought from anywhere in the world other than the middle east.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Batteries, especially electric vehicle batteries, aren't thrown away. They are recycled. That California bill you mentioned is primarily meant to study the issue, even though there was already a study conducted. AFAIK, the governator hasn't signed the bill.