Yahoo Autos Honda Whips Up a 3-Cylinder Motorcycle with an Electric Supercharger
Forced induction in motorcycles is nothing new, but Honda's latest concept vehicle is going about it in a whole new way. Building on their decades-long legacy of force-fed bikes—say hi, CX650 Turbo— Honda is prototyping an electrically supercharged, V-3 engine — a powerplant designed to put down big power numbers in a compact package.
The new prototype was unveiled at the Milan Motorcycle Show (otherwise known as EICMA), showcasing how the Honda Powersports division is on a mission to deliver high output out of high-efficiency internal combustion designs. Instead of a traditional exhaust gas spinning turbocharger or supercharger, Honda has developed the industry's first electrically-powered supercharger and is plumbing it into a small V-3 engine. As an analysis by Cycle World explains, this engine configuration isn't all that rare — but the re-introduction of its design in an emissions-strangling, four-stroke world is noteworthy.
The engine is oriented in a 75-degree V-shape; two of the three cylinders face forward, while the third is set toward the back of the bike's frame. Honda elected to use a dual-overhead-cam design on the engine, with Cycle World suggesting based on images that it will feature four valves per cylinder and chain-driven camshafts. Honda also alludes to the fact that this engine will be placed into “larger capacity motorcycles," likely suggesting the prospective displacement for a production model would be over 650cc.
The real meat of the technology tease comes from the centrifugal compressor Honda is using to compress the air molecules; that this electric supercharger doesn't rely on engine speed to drive its compressor wheel, instead using electricity to build boost independently of rpm. Honda claims this prototype engine can provide a wallop of torque down low, without worry that the supercharger will exceed its critical speed. Another benefit of the electrically driven supercharger is cleanliness, as plumbing needs are dramatically reduced; preliminary images of the supercharger show a simple pipe setup feeding air directly from the supercharger into the intake manifold.
While the prototype features a blank, tube-frame chassis, it's not immediately clear what bike the supercharged V-3 engine will be placed in for production — but it doesn't seem to matter much to Honda at this stage. Instead, the company appears eager to show off its engineering prowess, and it is indeed making a number of historic admissions to the motorcycling technology world. Our research suggests this is indeed the first motorcycle to feature an electric supercharger, though the technology is becoming common on modern automobiles. Similarly, the resurgence of a V-3 engine layout in four-stroke form is exciting, as Honda's own lineage is filled with two-stroke V-3 models like the NS500 and NS400R.
Power figures, production timelines, and a name for the powerplant are all to come, Honda says. "Development will continue towards mass production and towards Honda’s goal of enabling customers to further experience the unique joy of riding and owning a motorcycle," the company said in a release.
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