Honda's electric future

Images of Honda's green assault on the two-wheeled market have emerged ahead of their official unveiling at the 2009 Tokyo motor show.

Though precious little information has filtered through, we now have an idea of how the future of two-wheeled 'eco' transport will develop.

There are three models that have been announced thus far – the EV-Cub electric motorcycle, the EVE-neo electric scooter and the PCX which is a petrol-powered scooter with a stop-start system.

EV-Cub
This ultra-thin bike is powered by two electric motors, one in each wheel, which leads us to believe it could well be a 2WD motorcycle. This in itself is a story, as motorcycle companies have tried (mostly in vain) to develop 2WD systems that can provide more traction and are suited to wet roads or even off-road.

The EV-Cub is a frail looking thing that would probably snap in twain if you kicked it too hard, and though very little is known about the motorcycle it does feature a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system called HELLO!, which stands for Honda ELectric mobility LOop.

You can see the device in the images box, not unlike a miniature version of Honda's bizarre self-levelling mobility device, the U3-X.

We're guessing it's a mobile-phone sort of gizmo that tells you when other electric bikes are in the vicinity or allows you send text messages directly to the instrument display on a bike, removing the need for motorcyclists to stop and get their phones out when they get a message.

Messages on the go like "You riding sux - from Blue Gixxer" could make for interesting journeys.

EVE-neo
This electric scooter looks a lot smaller than Vectrix, but other than it's clean and green powertrain, little else is known about the neo.

It appears to be a fairly bare-bones model and could be a cost-effective mass-market electric model. It may also allow plug-in recharging at power points.

PCX
Powered by a four-stroke, water-cooled 125cc mill, the Honda PCX is the closest-to-production model of this trio, and is likely to be delivered to most global markets in the next 12 months.

With a compact and efficient engine, the Honda PCX also features an "idling stop system" which will shut down the engine when the bike is stopped – such as at traffic lights or taking a moment to hurl abuse at other motorists. It does this to save fuel and should be ultra-efficient in commuter traffic as a result.

Other features of the PCX include advanced emissions controls with Honda's PGM-FI electronic fuel injection, a catalyst device in the end can, plus a CBS or combined front/rear wheel brake system.

Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to the 2009 Tokyo motor show which commences on October 24th.