We haven’t heard anything regarding electric bikes from Kawasaki for quite a long time now. Back in 2014, the Japanese company was working on a concept e-bike called the J-concept. However, it never made any news after that. Now, Kawasaki has filed a set of new patent images which are likely to be of an upcoming electric motorcycle.
As per the images, it is clear that they are of an electric bike. There are a few elements which are of great interest. For example, there is a large air-scoop at the front of the motorcycle. It is more or less at the same place where you’d find cool air-inlets on a conventional petrol-powered motorcycle. Kawasaki could have used this air-scoop to channel air to the battery or the electric motor or perhaps both.
Electric motors might be different in terms of their functionality, but like petrol-engines, they also produce heat, a large amount of heat, which is not beneficial for the motor. So it becomes paramount to keep the motor under optimal working temperatures. And perhaps, Kawasaki has tried to do just that by incorporating an air-scoop. Also, there would be a front-mounted oil cooler.
Another interesting part that the patented images reveal is the use of a clutch. If there is a clutch, there would be a gearbox. Most electric motorcycles on the market run a direct drive off the motors central shaft, making use of a large rear sprocket or belt. The experience is more like that of a scooter than a motorcycle. Including a gearbox would not only provide a better user experience but would also put less stress on the motor.
Kawasaki filing these patent images means it is serious about electric motorcycles and we will be seeing one in the near future. However, there is a big possibility that the final product would differ from what we’ve seen in these images. Let’s see when and what Kawasaki comes up with. There’s no official statement regarding this mystery e-bike. We will keep our eyes and ears open and will let you guys know any new update regarding this.
