Hero MotoCorp Working on Hybrid Powertrains for Motorcycles

Indian brand Hero MotoCorp is aiming to expand its motorcycle selection by developing hybrid powertrains, as opposed to the traditional fully electric or ICE system.

The last few years has seen a switch towards electric bikes being produced in a bid to reduce emissions while also improving efficiency, but for many buyers, the traditional petrol motorcycles remain king. In the car world, developments have been streaks ahead and hybrid cars have also found a solidified home within the automobile industry.

But not so much in terms of two-wheels, with only Yamaha currently offering a hybrid two-wheeler for sale in India in the form of its Fascino 125cc scooter. Kawasaki has its own Ninja 7 Hybrid which certainly looks the part, but hybrid motorcycles in the main, remain very scarce to this point.

But Hero is hoping to change that, and with electric bikes and scooters a bigger success in India compared to other markets, at present, the development of new hybrid bikes could certainly fill a void. In terms of models it is going to produce, that remains a mystery to this point.

Hero Motocrop CEO Niranjan Gupta said this on the matter: “The market will continue to see alternative powertrain technologies. As you know, there is ICE and there is EV, where the industry is doubling down. We are working on flex fuels and ethanol-based fuel technology. In the long term, hybrid technologies are also being worked on.”

Hero has various small capacity motorcycles and scooters already in their line-up, most notably the Maverick 400, Harley Davidson X440 and the Karizma XMR. The Karizma XMR is known as one of its sportier models, while still being a bike that is built for comfort.

Yamaha is one of the biggest brands continuously looking to develop for the future, after being clear about its hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines, while another Indian company in Bajaj recently presented its first CNG-powered motorcycle.

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