Suzuki has applied patent for a two-wheel-drive (2WD) scooter in the US. While the rear wheel id driven by a conventional internal combustion engine, the front wheel gets an electric hub motor, making this scooter a hybrid.
While the scooter in patent filings resembles the Burgman, it features a different front end. However it is the powertrain that has grabbed our attention. The electric motor powering the front wheel is mounted on a swingarm on the left side, while the right side is occupied by suspension and brake. The electric motor drives a shaft connected to a planetary gear system. Another system patented by Suzuki reveals a different system with a slimmer electric motor and the front brake calliper mounted on the suspension linkage.
Electric power seems to be the way to go for the new generation of 2WD two-wheelers. Even Yamaha has applied for a patent for a similar 2WD system for its future motorcycles. However Suzuki hasn’t restricted itself to electric power, the company has also been testing Burgman with a fuel-cell-powered powertrain.
