Battery-powered Burgman close to production?
Although every Japanese bike manufacturer has made moves towards the electric bike market -whether via concept machines or full production models - Suzuki’s approach has been an unusual one with a focus on ambitious hydrogen fuel cells rather than commonplace batteries.
We’ve seen fuel cell electric concept bikes dating back as far as 2007’s Crosscage and a pilot production run of fuel cell powered Burgman scooters, which were type-approved in the EU way back in 2011 - and even trialled by police forces including London’s Metropolitan Police. However, Suzuki’s first stab at a mass-made electric bike looks set to follow much more conventional design ideas, ditching the hydrogen fuel cell and replacing it with much more mainstream rechargeable batteries.
Currently under development in India, the electric Suzuki is heavily derived from the existing Burgman Street 125, but switches the four-stroke single for an electric motor and an under-seat battery pack. The Burgman Street is already manufactured in India, also its main market, and the electric model is clearly aimed at a similar set of customers - targeting low cost over cutting-edge technology. The Indian development programme also means the bike has to face additional challenges including extremely high temperatures, which make for a tough trial for the electric powertrain.
Patents published in Japan show details of the bike’s construction, including a conventional steel chassis similar to the existing Burgman Street’s, but a different swingarm and rear suspension arrangement. Where the Burgman Street follows the usual scooter practice of having its engine bolted directly to a CVT transmission inside the swingarm, the electric version uses a more motorcycle-style arrangement with the motor mounted on the frame, driving the rear wheel via a chain or belt.
Suzuki’s patent confirms it uses an AC motor, with a DC-AC inverter under the footboards and a permanent battery pack mounted under the seat. That’s at odds with the swappable batteries that are favoured by rivals including Honda and Yamaha for smaller electric scooters, although the Suzuki uses a surprisingly large battery that hints it will have a substantial range between charges.
