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Kawasaki Applies for Electric Motorcycle Patent

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Need further proof that the future of motorcycling will include electrics? Take this recently published patent application from Kawasaki, that the Japanese OEM filed for back in 2011.

The claims are fairly rudimentary, though they do include a transmission, with Kawasaki’s lawyers mostly outlining the basics of a motorcycle powered by an electric motor, of course the news is less about the contents of the patent application, and more about the fact that it was applied for, in the first place.

Both Harley-Davidson, Honda, and Yamaha have publicly shown electric motorcycle concepts — with the Bar & Shield brand even going on a world tour that allows customers to ride its LiveWire prototype.

Recently Victory trademarked “Victory Charger” for use on an electric vehicle, which should come as little surprise since Polaris, Victory’s parent company, just acquired the electric motorcycle business from electric motorcycle startup Brammo, Inc.

The first OEM to publicly commit to electric, KTM now has its Freeride E available at select European dealerships, all of which makes for a diverse landscape of established motorcycle brands taking a shine to electric drivetrains.

So, in many ways, Kawasaki’s interest in producing an electric motorcycle should be predictable, as Team Green seems to be one of the last OEMs in the “green” energy game (see what we did there?).

When will we see an electric motorcycle concept from Kawasaki is anyone’s guess, though there are two big motorcycle shows coming up in Japan in a couple weeks’ time.

In reality, we doubt we’ll see something so soon from Kawasaki, but if the Kawasaki H2 has shown us anything, it is that anything is possible from Kawasaki right now.

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Source: USPTO

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