Honda to launch electric motorcycle by 2010 with GS Yuasa
Written on December 21, 2008 – 12:53 pm | by BikersUnite
Honda has announced a foray into the electric motorcycle segment with first of the electric bikes to be launched as early as 2010. Announcing a tie-up with GS Yuasa Corp for development of lithium ion batteries for it’s motorcycles, Honda is clearing planning to take a lead on it’s competitors Yamaha & Suzuki both of whom have also showcased their electric motorcycle concepts in recent times.
‘Honda is currently developing a battery-powered electric motorcycle which emits no CO2 during operation. The company is aiming to introduce this electric motorcycle to the market about in two years from now,’ says Takeo Fukui, Chairman and CEO – Honda Motor Co. ‘History shows that motorcycles remain strong in a difficult market environment and have always supported Honda in difficult times,’ he adds.
In a joint venture with GS Yuasa, Honda will set up a research and development centre, and a battery manufacturing facility, near Kyoto in Japan for it’s new generation of battery powered motorcycles. Honda will hold 49% stake in the new JV company with Yuasa holding the rest 51%.
After opting out of Formula 1 and putting on hold the successor for Honda NSX, Honda’s development push seems to be on greener technologies with motorcycles to benefit first from this new line of development. With motorcycles being the favored mode of transport in most of the developing world, the era for electric vehicles seems to be about to begin.
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December 21st, 2008 at 2:11 pm
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