Electrification has been a hot topic among motorists for a long time now, with a majority of customers resisting the temptation to swap their internally combusted cars for EVs despite numerous Government incentives to switch to electric.
Currently Government legislation is set to effectively see a ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) cars in the UK from 2030, although this date has moved regularly over the years and may well change again. Things are even less clear when it comes to a date for the end of ICE motorcycles but, one thing’s for sure, legislators appear keen to see an end to the sale of all vehicles producing tailpipe emissions.
But the market is speaking loud and clear, and manufacturers are looking for solutions to save the internal combustion engine by making them cleaner and more efficient than ever. Motorcyclists seem even more reluctant to change, with monthly sales of large electric motorcycles often able to be counted on fingers (and occasionally toes), and it definitely appears they want to keep hold of the emotional attachment they enjoy with their petrol bikes.
Avoiding the urge to go down the route of full electrification, we’ve already seen Kawasaki bring some hybrid motorcycles to the market, while they’ve also publicly demonstrated a large capacity sports tourer using a hydrogen fuelled ICE motor. Now Honda, which has also been active in developing low powered battery powered scooters, has shown a ‘supercharged’ V3 concept bike, which could help make a new case for extending the life of new petrol motorcycles.
Presented during the winter shows, alongside some battery powered concepts, the unnamed machine features a brand new 75° V3 four-stroke engine which is fitted with an electrical compressor to boost torque through the low- to mid-range. By compressing air and forcing it into the airbox, the system works in a similar way to a traditional supercharger – albeit one which is far more advanced. By being electronically controlled, Honda’s system should spool up more quickly than a mechanical supercharger, all but eliminating lag, while also spinning at a higher number of revolutions per minute than a traditional blower.
And far from being a pie in the sky idea, Honda says the slimline powertrain is being ‘newly developed’ for larger capacity machines. The idea of an electrical supercharger is not new and is something also being developed in the car world, although it’s not without its challenges as it needs an electrical supply beyond that typically provided by a regular 12v battery.
The benefits are clear though. The compressor simulates the effects of a traditional mechanical supercharger and allows the engineers to control compression of the intake air irrespective of engine rpm. The electrical system also allows the components to be more easily packaged on the machine, something which is more critical on a motorcycle than on other, physically bigger, vehicles.
The concept of smaller engines with forced induction has been common practice in the car world for over a decade now. Turbocharged engines can be found on even the most humble hatchbacks, where they offer more power and greater efficiency than their naturally aspirated counterparts. Could we see a similar approach adopted in the two-wheeled world, with forced induction and mild hybrid systems being applied to a new generation of two-and-three cylinder engines?
Although a completely new engine, the V3 configuration is ingrained in Honda’s DNA. The company has become famous for its V4 and V5 race bikes in the ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s, but it was a V3 which powered Freddie Spencer to Honda’s first ever premier class world title, back in 1983. Honda hasn’t stated the capacity of the engine in the concept bike, focusing instead on the electrical compressor, although physically it looks to be in the middleweight category, perhaps in the 700-900cc bracket. The architecture shows two cylinders at the front of the V, with one at the rear. The compressor, which is electrically rather than mechanically powered as would be the case with a traditional supercharger, is located behind the headstock and forces compressed air into what appears to be an aluminium airbox. Honda showcased the concept in a steel trellis style frame, which really shows off how narrow and compact the whole package is.
The manufacturer says development of the V3 concept will ‘continue towards mass production’ and is part of Honda’s goal of ‘enabling customers to further experience the unique joy of riding and owning a motorcycle’. We’ll almost certainly see something along the lines of the concept bike enter production, and if the manufacturer is emboldened enough to share at least some of its ideas publicly, there’s a fair chance they’re pretty far down the line with testing and that it’ll be in our showrooms within a few years.
While electric motorcycles are not without their benefits, the drawbacks are many and the general apathy shown by consumers suggests that if there is to be a future for powerful motorcycles among the traditional customer base then it is likely to be as a result of the reimagining of the internal combustion engine, with clever technology to make them cleaner and more efficient.
This may prove the catalyst to deliver a stay of execution to motorcycles as we know them, and provide a blueprint for the next generation of high performance motorcycles. That, it appears, is what Honda appears to be banking on.
