10 Things You Didn’t Know About Kawasaki’s First Hydrogen Motorcycle. [Video]

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Kawasaki’s First Hydrogen Motorcycle.
The first hydrogen-powered motorcycle from Kawasaki, the Ninja H2 HySE prototype, can be the next big thing in the journey of cleaner mobility.
In what can be one of the biggest gambles towards cleaner mobility, Kawasaki showcased its prototype of a hydrogen-powered motorcycle at its Group Vision 2030 conference in December 2023. Touted to be the world’s first hydrogen motorcycle, this prototype from Kawasaki has been named Ninja H2 HySE. It is the first motorcycle project from the highly-revered HySE consortium comprising some of the biggest names in the automotive world from Japan, including Kawasaki.
At its internal event, Kawasaki only showcased a glimpse of its first-ever hydrogen-powered motorcycle and refrained even from starting it in front of the public. This secretive approach from Kawasaki in unveiling the hydrogen motorcycle gave birth to a whole host of questions. However, relying on various sources from Kawasaki, we have found answers to most of them. Here are all the details of the Kawasaki Ninja H2 HySE, the prototype of Kawasaki’s first hydrogen-powered motorcycle, which is out in the open now:
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The First Motorcycle From HySE Consortium.
The synonym in the name of Kawasaki H2 HySE has significance, as the HySE Hydrogen Small Mobility and Engine Technology consortium is a collaboration of all the top-ranked Japanese automakers – Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, and Toyota.
The hydrogen motorcycle from Kawasaki is one of the first efforts of the HySE consortium, under which the aforementioned Japanese companies have come together to transform the transportation industry through vehicles powered by alternative energy sources.
Following are the responsibilities of all the brands that are a part of the HySE consortium towards the project:
Kawasaki and Yamaha To lead the efforts on the capabilities of hydrogen engines
Suzuki To study the potential of performance and reliability of hydrogen engines
Honda Responsible for the model development research
Toyota To provide additional aid to attain the full potential of hydrogen engines
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The Project And Logo Were Trademarked In Early 2023.
Before the HySE consortium came into existence, Kawasaki had already created the HySE title for the project, along with a dedicated logo for it, in March 2023. The name and logo were later trademarked by the HySE consortium, of which Kawasaki became a part.
The logo includes a picture of a water droplet on two wheels, with the water depicting the emissions of a hydrogen engine and the two wheels symbolizing those of a motorcycle.
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The Test Prototype Is A Complete Departure From The Initial Design
At the EICMA 2022, Kawasaki showcased a prototype of the hydrogen engine and a few sketches of the motorcycle on which the engine was set to be tested. Compared to the most recent prototype of the hydrogen-powered Kawasaki motorcycle, the motorcycle in the initial sketches looked entirely different.
In comparison, the motorcycle from the initial sketches was much sleeker and edgier in appearance. Unlike the Ninja H2 HySE, which seeks inspiration from the Ninja H2 SX, the initial prototype sketches look more inspired by the Ninja ZX-10R. This prototype of a hydrogen-powered Kawasaki motorcycle also showcased hydrogen canisters stored in the side panniers at the rear. Also, while the latest prototype has a lot of blue highlights, this initial prototype had the typical Kawasaki green splashes all over.