Honda has released details and pictures of a prototype 50cc scooter driven by a hybrid gasoline/electric powerplant. Similar technology is available in Honda's Insight as well as hybrid automobiles from several other manufacturers, but this is the first application in the two-wheeled world.
Hybrid gas/electric powered vehicles have multiple operating modes controlled by an onboard computer. When maximum power is demanded by the rider/driver (i.e. full throttle), both the electric motor and the internal combustion engine provide power to the wheel(s). During light-throttle cruising or closed-throttle deceleration, the power from the internal combustion engine is used to charge the batteries while the electric motor is left to provide drive. When the batteries are fully charged the internal combustion engine can shut itself down, allowing the vehicle to cruise solely on electric power.
According to Honda "These advanced features allow the hybrid scooter to achieve 1.6 times the fuel economy of the Dio Z4 (when riding on flat ground at 30 km/h) and to produce 37% less carbon dioxide". The Dio Z4 is a similarly-sized Honda 50cc scooter which uses a traditional internal-combustion engine.
Is this the future of commuter-bike engines? Unless hydrogen or other alternative fuels emerge as a superior alternative, entry-level commuter bikes and scooters using hybrid technology may come to the market within the next few years. These machines could use this hybrid technology to provide better mileage and lower emissions, attractive features for an everyday rider.
