Kawasaki appears to be working on a hybrid maxi-scooter, according to documents uncovered by moto-journalist Ben Purvis.
Writing in Cycle World, Purvis says the scooter will be driven by the same hybrid powerplant that currently sits in the Ninja 7 Hybrid and Z7 Hybrid – two bikes that have made so little impact that, honestly, I wasn’t aware that they were in production.
I had heard about them, but apparently they’ve been available to purchase since 2024. Where was I when they were launched? Presumably the same place as everyone else; in the United Kingdom, only a few dozen have been sold.
Anyhoo, despite the bikes’ subpar sales performance, Kawasaki is keen to put their 451cc parallel twin and 9 kW electric motor pairing into another application. Arguably, this one makes the most sense.
The size and weight of the dual powerplant makes for a slightly awkward look – and, I would assume, feel – on a bike like the Ninja 7 Hybrid. But within the structure of a maxi-scooter it would likely look a little more normal. And weight can be brought closer to the ground to make it easier to handle.
Purvis points out that a maxi-scooter set-up also allows for a better cooling system, with the design allowing Kawasaki to move bits around.
“The patent shows that the front section of the trellis-style frame is extended, pushing the steering head forwards, and the radiator… downwards,” Purvis writes. “That makes space for the battery pack to be moved from below the seat to an enlarged space in front of the cylinder head, where it can… benefit from much-improved cooling airflow around its finned casing.”
Theoretically that means that the existing “E-Boost” feature, which allows you to use full battery and engine power simultaneously for a few seconds, could be enhanced to function for longer.
Kawasaki is also able to move the fuel tank into an underseat space, which, again, helps to keep the center of gravity low.
In addition to seemingly having a geometry that’s better suited to the hybrid powerplant, a maxi-scooter makes more sense in terms of application. Maxi-scooters are primarily urban machines, operated in environments with increasingly stringent environmental restrictions. Think of London’s Ultra-low emissions zones (ULEZ), for example.
The presence of an old-school internal combustion engine would give you the range to be able to ride into London from outside the Orbital (for those of you playing along anywhere that isn’t Southern England, the London Orbital is a 117-mile stretch of motorway – the M25 – that encircles most of the Greater London area). Getting into the heart of London from well outside of London is currently a challenge for electric-only motorcycles and scooters.
Then, once you’re into the nitty gritty of stand-still traffic and 20mph limits, the presence of the electric motor could ensure you’re playing by ULEZ rules.
“Maxi-scooters also face lower expectations when it comes to performance and handling than conventional bikes,” Purvis adds.
All that said, patents uncovered back in 2024 suggest that Kawasaki is also working on hybrid versions of its Eliminator cruiser and Versys adventure-tourer.
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