Following up on last year’s announcement that Kawasaki was committed to carbon neutrality, Kawasaki Motors Corporation president Hiroshi Ito took to the stage at EICMA to unveil a range of pre-production ICE alternatives this week. Closer to home, their green team’s EV revolution has already begun as the Kawasaki Elektrode electric balance bike for kids aged 3-8 is arriving in dealerships this month. The next battery electric Z family bike was on display at Intermot last month, but the Kawasaki saved some shockers for Milan.
In Italy, Ito unveiled a Ninja-style machine with the same dual battery power found on the Z pre-production platform presented in Intermot. Both Z and Ninja battery electric vehicles (BEV) look to be available later next year in the US market, according to Ito-san. Highlighting Kawasaki’s R&D into other alternative power types, Ito also previewed Kawasaki’s first ever Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) in prototype form. The HEV motorcycle will be able to quickly and easily switch between its internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric power, the HEV machine is currently set to be available in 2024.
Demonstrating Kawasaki’s full range of carbon neutral concepts, an experimental hydrogen powered display engine based on the Supercharged Ninja H2 using direct injection and compressed gaseous hydrogen was shown. This hydrogen engine has been shown as a concept Ninja H2 platform as well as inserted into a Teryx KRX 1000 side x side.
While underlining Kawasaki’s commitment to internal combustion engines and research into future fuel types, Ito also unveiled a new symbol headlining the “Go With Green Power” initiative. The ultimate goal is to achieve carbon neutrality for Kawasaki within a strategic timeframe. Ito also clarified that across the next two model years 2024 to 2025. Ultimately Kawasaki plans to introduce approximately 30 internal combustion engine motorcycle models globally.
The sentiment that Ito conveyed to the media audience at EICMA was that Kawasaki will continue to provide products and services that meet the needs of its customers and society. They will achieve this lofty goal by harnessing advances in current vehicle technology to create new, environmentally friendly products that are carbon neutral.
