Can a hybrid engine be shrunk small enough to fit within the very narrow confines of a motorcycle? Honda thinks it can do it and if I was going to bet $700 billion of taxpayers' money on that gamble, I would place the bet on Honda.
The Japanese automaker says it is working on hybrid motorcycles and the first models could be on the market within two years.
By 2011, Honda plans to take it even one step smaller and introduce scooters with hybrid engines.
The problem with making hybrid motorcycles have been compacting all the components of a hybrid engine and making it efficient enough in such a small surface area that the vehicle can actually travel a decent distance.
The first roll out with the motorcycle will be for engine displacements between 200 and 1,000 cc and Honda claims the hybrid motorcycles will be 50 per cent more fuel efficient. The automaker thinks production costs could be kept reasonable by using common components in its current lines of hybrid cars and motorcycles.
Next will be the electric scooters ranging from 50 to 125 cc.
The smaller electric motorcycles will only be able to run about 18 miles, or 30 kilometers, on one charge.
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