Japan has a deep-seated love for innovation. Due to its unique geographical location, it is faced with equally unique engineering challenges that force the Japanese to think outside the box, in particular when it comes to the automotive industry. Throughout history, the nation of Japan has produced some truly iconic cars and motorcycles that have performed extremely well all around the world. Their models have become legendary and have reshaped the benchmark standards for how the engine should be produced.
Japan has a history of innovation in the automotive sector
Japan established itself as a major stakeholder in the automotive manufacturing revolution that encompassed the world in the early 1900s. At the time, the world was coming out of the back of the Industrial Revolution, which enabled countries to establish huge workforces in an attempt to lure the largest companies in the world to their shores, which Japan managed to do extremely well. Establishing itself as a permanent home of manufacturing for a range of companies.
The history of creating fuel-efficient vehicles began after the oil crisis of 1973, when Japanese automakers capitalized on the need for innovative, lightweight cars for the public to buy. Along with that came a venture into the alternative fuel market. Considering their unique population challenges, Asia and, in particular, Japan, have been forced to explore the alternative fuel sector.
One such alternative fuel that has shown consistent promise is hydrogen. As the EV has become immensely popular, the automotive industry has been searching the globe for another reliable fuel source to invest in. Hydrogen has proven to be a serious candidate as the world’s top automotive manufacturers have made significant investments in the hydrogen dream.
What is the latest hydrogen vehicle to emerge from the land of the rising sun?
Considering Japan’s proclivity for the alternatively powered vehicle, the latest vehicle from this iconic manufacturer can come as no surprise. Japan has always maintained a reputable level of quality for its flagship vehicles. Its reputation as one of the world’s top automotive manufacturers has led to immense success not only in the car market, but the motorcycle sector as well.
Kawasaki has unveiled its latest motorcycle that is based on one of its legendary models, the Ninja. The Ninja H2 serves as the platform for the HySE prototype, which is powered by two hydrogen tanks on the side of the bike. Kawasaki recently showed what the 310 HP beast is capable of at an event at the iconic Suzuka Circuit, and the sound and performance are what stole the show.
The problem with electric bikes has been, up until this point, that they fail to deliver the kind of performance and roar that the motorcycle rider is looking for. The new prototype from Kawasaki changes that by delivering the high-pitched roar that the rider craves while also protecting the environment, as the only emission from the tailpipe is water. While their compatriots move away from hydrogen, Kawasaki is doubling down on their hydrogen-powered plans for the future.
Will we see the hydrogen-powered motorcycle on the road soon?
The world is embracing the green future that the top manufacturers are in pursuit of. The embrace that the EV found globally was the evidence the world needed to see that change is coming. Whether that be all electric or feature some form of hydrogen power, remains to be seen. Kawasaki has made its stance clear: it believes in the “green dream” that the automotive world has been pursuing. Can Kawasaki continue to refine the hydrogen motorcycle to a point where we can buy one? We certainly hope so.
