KAWASAKI ANNOUNCES CARBON NEUTRALITY PLANS AT EICMA GO WITH GREEN POWER
Foothill Ranch, Calif. – During the 2022 EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan, President of Kawasaki Motors Corporation, Mr. Hiroshi Ito, unveiled a range of pre-production and prototype Kawasaki models and announced Kawasaki’s company-wide vision focused on Carbon Neutrality.
Earlier this year, Kawasaki announced its first electric model with the Kawasaki Elektrode™ electric balance bike for kids aged 3-8, which are arriving in dealerships this month. The next battery electric Z family machine was first shown as a prototype at Intermot, only for Mr. Ito to unveil a Ninja style machine with the same dual battery power. Both Z and Ninja battery electric vehicles (BEV) will look to be available later next year in the US market.
Highlighting Kawasaki research and development into other innovative vehicle types, Mr. 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 breadth of carbon neutral models, 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 shown inserted into the chassis of a Teryx KRX® 1000 side x side.
While underlining Kawasaki’s commitment to internal combustion engines and research into future fuel types, Mr. Ito also unveiled a new symbol headlining the new Go with Green Power initiative with its goal of achieving carbon neutrality for Kawasaki within a strategic timeframe.
Amidst so many attention-grabbing prototype and pre-production models, Mr. Ito additionally clarified that across the next two model years 2024 to 2025, Kawasaki plans to also introduce approximately 30 internal combustion engine motorcycle models globally.
The sentiment that Mr. Ito left the media audience with at EICMA was that Kawasaki will continue to provide products and services that meet the needs of its customers and society by harnessing advances in current vehicle technology and via new, environmentally friendly products that are carbon neutral.
About Kawasaki
Kawasaki started full-scale production of motorcycles over a half century ago. The first Kawasaki motorcycle engine was designed based on technical know-how garnered from the development and production of aircraft engines, and Kawasaki’s entry into the motorcycle industry was driven by the company’s constant effort to develop new technologies. Numerous new Kawasaki models introduced over the years have helped shape the market, and in the process have created enduring legends based on their unique engineering, power, design and riding pleasure. In the future, Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. is committed to maintaining and furthering these strengths which will surely give birth to new legends.
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. markets and distributes Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, side x sides, and JET SKI® watercraft through a network of approximately 1,100 independent retailers, with close to an additional 7,700 retailers specializing in general purpose engines. Kawasaki and its affiliates employ nearly 3,100 people in the United States, with approximately 260 of them located at Kawasaki’s Foothill Ranch, California headquarters.
Kawasaki’s tagline, “Let the good times roll.®”, is recognized worldwide. The Kawasaki brand is synonymous with powerful, stylish and category-leading vehicles. Information about Kawasaki’s complete line of powersports products and Kawasaki affiliates can be found on the Internet at www.kawasaki.com.
