We first discovered about Kawasaki’s upcoming electrical road bikes final yr on the 2022 EICMA Milan Bike Present. And now it appears to be like like the 2 electrical bikes are prepared for primetime.
The pair of electrical fashions has begun homologation in Australia, as reported by Bike.com. In accordance with the homologation filings, the 2 electrical motorbike fashions have acquired the designation Ninja e-1 and Z e-1.
The bikes appear to make use of comparable bodywork to their 400cc gasoline-powered counterparts, the Ninja 400 and Z400. Nevertheless, the wheels and brakes look to be borrowed from the marginally lower-powered Ninja 300 and Z300.
When Kawasaki introduced the bikes final yr, the facility was anticipated to be 11 kW (14.75 hp). The homologation filings for the Australian model lists the facility at 9 kW (12 hp).
In accordance with the filings, the weights are listed as 135 kg (298 lb.) for the Z e-1 mannequin and 140 kg (309 lb.) for the Ninja e-1. Nevertheless, it’s not clear if that features the 2 detachable batteries that Kawasaki beforehand acknowledged would energy the bikes. The corporate has stated that two 12 kg (26 lb.) batteries would energy the bikes and be detachable for charging. Collectively, they might add as much as 3 kWh.
That may be a comparatively small battery for an electrical motorbike, possible that means these bikes could be hampered by small metropolis ranges and restricted high speeds.
This might mark the primary mass market electrical road bike from a Japanese motorbike firm.
The Huge 4 motorbike makers in Japan, consisting of Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki, have traditionally dragged their toes relating to electrical motorbike growth. Whereas every has confirmed some stage of progress with prototypes, none has but reached commercialization of a full-size electrical motorbike outdoors of smaller electrical scooters.
By comparability, American corporations like Zero Bikes have offered electrical bikes for over a decade, and legacy corporations like Harley-Davidson (and its spin-off firm LiveWire) have practically half a decade of electrical motorbike gross sales beneath their belts. Italian electrical motorbike producer Energica additionally has practically a decade of gross sales, competing in opposition to high-end sport bikes like Ducati.
These bikes all function batteries of at the least 14 kWh although, that means these 3 kWh Kawasaki bikes might be rolling up quick with a fraction of the battery and motor efficiency of American and Italian rivals.
