Kawasaki’s braking regeneration plan REVEALED in future designs

Here’s the next phase of Kawasaki’s electric engine programme – a complex motorcycle braking-regeneration electrical feed system that the factory has just patented.

It is a set-up that will be applied to all of the firm’s electricpowered vehicles coming in the near future.

The idea has now been patented for the first time in a motorcycle-specific document by the giant firm. Not only does the application for patent explain the routing for the system’s recoup of power every time the front brake is applied, but also features a side-on illustration of a motorcycle crammed with an electric motor and batteries.

There’s even a drawing showing the regen meter on the electronic dash (item 54 and 55 on the diagram below) and a thumb brake on the left-hand handlebar; the thumb brake will also be linked to the regen system. The plus and minus on the left handlebar grip is to dial in the amount of power fed to the electric motor as required.

We’ve no idea when this tech is likely to hit the bikes we can buy (once we see patents, a fair guess for the sort of timescale involved is usually around two years) but what this does show is that Kawasaki is serious about being the first to put regenerative braking-fed power back into its upcoming electric bike’s batteries, seriously lengthening the amount of use which can be drawn from the no-petrol system.

“Kawasaki is serious about being the first to put regenerative braking-fed power back into its upcoming electric bike’s batteries...”

Above and right: The designs are based around an entirely electric motorcycle but focus on the braking energy generated from stopping being delivered directly back to the bike’s batteries. A meter mounted above the usual dash will show how much energy...