Yamaha and Kawasaki join forces to create hydrogen engines - Sectors

In a joint effort to promote more sustainable technologies in the motorcycle industry, yamaha and kawasaki have announced a strategic alliance to develop engines powered by hydrogen.

This news comes shortly after Segway and Xiaomi revealed their first prototype hydrogen bike, indicating that interest in this type of fuel is gaining momentum in the market.

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The collaboration between Yamaha and Kawasaki is just one of several alliances being formed in the automotive industry to explore the possibilities of hydrogen as an alternative energy source.

According to information from the ‘Diario motor’ portal, Subaru, Toyota and Mazda have also joined this initiative, looking for ecological alternatives that go beyond the electrification of vehicles and contribute to the made of the environment.

Kawasaki, in particular, has been involved in finding hydrogen-related solutions. from 2010. The company, according to the page, has been conducting verification tests to develop cheaper and more efficient ways to produce, transport and use hydrogen throughout its supply chain.

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In addition, he explains that they have built the first freighter in the world designed specifically to transport liquefied hydrogen, demonstrating their commitment to this technology. Kawasaki is also working on the development of hydrogen engines for airplanes, boats and motorcycles.

For its part, Yamaha Motor is in full development of technology used in hydrogen engineswith the aim of implementing it in both motorcycles and recreational vehicles off road (ROVs), such as buggy and Side to side.

The company is determined to promote this line of business by improving its equipment and strengthening its project structure.

Although for the moment these two brands are leading this initiative, it is expected that other important companies in the sector, such as Suzuki and Honda, will join them in the future.

The main hurdle he faces is finding a way to maintain a balance between cooperation and competition within this alliance.

According to the technology portal ‘Xataka’, Yoshihiro Hidaka, president of Yamaha Motor, highlights the potential of hydrogen engines to be neutral in carbon emissions while keeping the passion for internal combustion engines alive.

In addition, the company has been commissioned by Toyota to develop a high-performance V8, and Hidaka says that Yamaha is committed to achieving the CO2 neutrality by 2050without giving up internal combustion.

However, hydrogen presents challenges in terms of its storage and energy density. In addition, the consumption of a certain amount of oil is another drawback that must be addressed.

Despite these challenges, Yamaha is working to preserve the unique characteristics of hydrogen engines, such as their power and feel.

Yamaha is committed to achieving CO2 neutrality by 2050, without giving up internal combustion in its vehicles.

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Other hydrogen fueled motorcycles

The ‘Green Hydrogen’ page explains that the company H2 Motronics, in collaboration with Nevers, presented its latest prototype, the H2K.

This competition motorcycle stands out for being a 25% lighter than electric models and has twice the autonomy. In addition, it stands out for its reduced refueling times.

The electric motor of 100 kW (136 CV) incorporated in this motorcycle allows to reach a Top speed of 237 km/h.

For its operation, it is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell that has a deposit between 1 and 1.5 kilograms of hydrogen.

In addition to the fuel cell, the prototype includes a 23-liter tank, a humidifier, a compressor, and various control instruments. These elements work together to ensure optimal motorcycle performance.