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[Richard230]

Talk about a complicated hybrid motorcycle design!  They trademarked the E-Boost name. But gee whiz, what are they thinking?   
https://www.motorcycle.com/patents/kawasaki-is-developing-a-hybrid-motorcycle-with-an-electric-supercharger.html
 

[princec]

I wonder what's going through their minds when they should really know that hybrid is a dead end tech? Even Toyota have performed a volte-face on them and going all-in on BEV.

Cas

[Fred]

I agree that it's odd. However, it is good that someone is spending the time and money to look at different ways of doing things. 99% chance that it's a dead end, but that's the only way the the odd cool thing gets invented.

[Fran K]

Turbo engines running at a constant rpm likely give can be designed to give better emissions levels than conventional automatic or standard shift transmission.

Too bad the rpm is so high, maybe won't need the engine when going below the wind noise blocking out engine noise.

Maybe it will be an electric motorcycle with drive line coushioning.

As to the Toyota comment how can they be all in for BEV when they are also into hydrogen fuel cell?  What does BEV encompass?

Would it make Wild AC I have read about in windmills for power generation?

There is a link in the article about the motorcycle atv and utv and seems like the engine like in a riding lawn mower is now a seperate entity.  Wonder if that has something to with the shifting teams of their hottest motocross star.

[princec]

(Toyota is a massive organisation, with many internal competing fiefdoms as this things tend to have. It seems the BEV bunch have managed to finally bend the right ears)

Cas

[wavelet]

(Toyota is a massive organisation, with many internal competing fiefdoms as this things tend to have. It seems the BEV bunch have managed to finally bend the right ears)

Cas

Toyota is still extremely BEV-hostile.
Their CEO claiming 6 months ago switching to BEVs in Japan would worsen pollution, which is a complete lie given their electricity generation mix. This "all-out" plan is years to late, and, notably, they still plan on making lots of ICEVs. Their plan is 8M "electrified" vehicles in 2030, but only 2M of those are BEVs+FCEVs -- the rest are plugless hybrids. this means at least 20% won't even be hybrids.
The investment they're talking about is also pretty low given their size, compared to Ford, GM, VW & Stellantis.

We'll see what their actual BEVs look like... I suspect ridiculous models like the Lexus UX300e in terms of basic capabilities & value.

[princec]

Toyota seem to be blithering away like a dinosaur with two brains, neither of which seems to be fully in command.

Cas

[Richard230]

Toyota seem to be blithering away like a dinosaur with two brains, neither of which seems to be fully in command.

Cas

 

[Sklith]

Toyota seem to be blithering away like a dinosaur with two brains, neither of which seems to be fully in command.

Toyota choosing to sit out a couple generations of BEVs might be a good decision in the long run. With GM & Hyundai's reputation getting tarnished by LG's cells, it shows that being first isn't always best.

[princec]

Interesting definition of "first" though *cough* Tesla *cough* 

Cas

[Sklith]

Interesting definition of "first" though *cough* Tesla *cough* 

True that. Though Toyota did partner up with Tesla to build the Rav4 EV way back in the day.

[princec]

Bet they're kicking themselves in private now!

Cas

[wavelet]

Interesting definition of "first" though *cough* Tesla *cough* 

Cas

Tesla was by no means first.
Nissan's decision to make a volume BEV car (Leaf) as well as Mitsubishi's decision ditto (i-MiEV) predated Tesla's.

[Crissa]

Nissan went without a BEV between 2002 and 2010.  The Model S prototype was demonstrated concurrently to the Leaf's TIIDA demonstration platform.  Tesla was already shipping Roadsters at that point.

-Crissa

[wavelet]

Nissan went without a BEV between 2002 and 2010.  The Model S prototype was demonstrated concurrently to the Leaf's TIIDA demonstration platform.  Tesla was already shipping Roadsters at that point.

-Crissa

I was specifically referring to volume production cars; I don't consider the Roadster one.
At the time the Nissan BoD made the decision (they had to be led kicking & streaming by Carlos Ghosn, granted), it's doubtful they had even heard of Tesla.
The decision to produce the Leaf was made in 2008, after various prototypes already existed. There was already a production-intent prototype in early 2009.

As for the i-MiEV, it was shown as a working prototype in 2006, and production-intent prototypes were tested in various fleets in 2007. Actual retail sales in Japan started in 2009.