Suzuki

Suzuki shows hydrogen-fuelled scooter By Ben Purvis

Suzuki has been flirting with hydrogen-fuelled bikes for nearly two decades, but its latest attempt at the idea is very different - using a hydrogen-burning combustion engine as part the HySE collaboration alongside Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki.

All Suzuki's previous hydrogen projects have used the gas to provide electricity, via hydrogen fuel cell technology, for electric bikes. The company started down that path in 2007 with the Crosscage concept, tying in with British brand Intelligent Energy to pursue the idea. It went on to make fuel-cell-powered Burgman scooters in 2010 and even trialled them with the Metropolitan Police in London in 2017 and 2018.

However, under the HySE project, Japan's 'Big Four' are joining forces with other companies including Toyota to work on hydrogen-fuelled combustion engines specifically for motorcycles and other small vehicles, and that's where the latest Burgman comes in. Revealed at the Japan Mobility Show, which is the new name for the Tokyo Motor Show, it's a modified Burgman 400, using essentially the same engine that powers the conventional gasoline version, but with changes to suit hydrogen power. Suzuki hasn't revealed details of the alterations to the engine, but they're believed to include direct fuel injection to allow the hydrogen adaptation to work.

'Hydrogen combustion engine is part of HySE industry collaboration in Japan'

The hydrogen itself sits in a tank between the rider's feet, pressurised at a remarkable 700 bar (about 10,000 psi) to get enough of the gas in there to allow a respectable range. A filler below the rider's seat allows the bike to use a hydrogen filling system when the tank needs to be replenished.

To make space for the tank, the whole engine and swingarm unit is moved backwards by around 200 mm, extending the wheelbase by the same amount but ensuring the under-seat storage isn't sacrificed, as it was on Suzuki's fuel-cell Burgman designs.

Other HySE projects include a four-wheeled off-road vehicle that's due to compete in January's Dakar Rally, using a supercharged 998 cc four-cylinder engine developed by Kawasaki to burn hydrogen instead of gasoline. The same engine, based on the company's H2 superbike motor, is eventually intended to appear in Kawasaki's proposed hydrogen-powered sports-touring bike, drawings of which were revealed in 2022.