Honda 3-RC concept
Added on Friday, February 26th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Honda 3-RC concept
Honda are showing off its 3-RC concept vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show next week, which underlines how keen car manufacturers are to showcase their `green’ vehicles, reports Alastair Walker.
The new futuristic Honda concept vehicle is battery powered, carries its weight low and has a `safety cell’ for the driver. It looks like a modern day bubble car, with a hint of the Segway about it. The 3-RC was designed at the Honda R&D facility in Milan, as a fusion of motorcycle and car aimed at hip urban city-dwellers who want `green’ transport. However, there is no information yet about possible production. The 3-RC seems likely to remain a concept, interesting but not very practical - how can you carry anything back from Ikea in it for example?
Geneva is a show which acts as a barometer for the European motor industry and several electric, or economy vehicles are being launched - Opel are even driving their Ampera family car 300 miles to the show to demonstrate the extended battery life. What has this to do with motorcycles? Simple, it demonstrates how far behind the industry is in offering viable transport which is electric, or hybrid powered and sold at slightly more than their petrol-powered rivals.
The contrast between Geneva’s car event and the 2009 Milan Motorcycle show is stark. Motorcycles and scooters are essentially stuck in a petrol-guzzling past whilst the car makers are facing the reality that the EU and USA are likely to demand genuinely economical cars, in return for bailing out large sectors of the motor industry. Geneva sees the launch of the Fiat 900 two cylinder commuter car, likely to emit under 100gms/Km of C02 ( so no car tax to pay ) and return over 80mpg - where is the 900cc motorcycle that can get anywhere near that mpg figure? Some 125cc scooters cannot even match that.
Even car manufacturers who cater to the rich are facing the winds of change; Mercedes and Ferrari are launching hybrids at Geneva, the Mercedes will do 80mpg. You may think it’s mere window-dressing, but the point is they are doing something which curries favour with the political elite who delight in passing more laws and regulations. Motorcycle industry investment in new power units for bikes is feeble by comparison. This year, the TTX GP series will take place over three rounds in the UK. Everyone in TTX GP is an independent team, struggling on a tiny budget and the series is supported by the BMF and ACU, who both believe it is vital to securing the future of motorcycling - where are the big manufacturers?
New 2010 bikes like the VFR1200, or Multistrada 1200 are superb, but only do 35-40mpg. Milan and Cologne should be showcasing hybrid commuters that can do 350mpg, or electric scooters that travel 200 miles on a single, three hour charge - and charge your phone or laptop whilst you ride. If those vehicles do not appear soon, there is surely a real risk that motorcycling itself will be legislated out of existence as a waste of resources.
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