Meet Yamaha XT 500 H2O, a bike that runs on the water

KUALA LUMPUR: While all the giant automakers are competing to build better electric vehicles, there is an iconic bike maker who plans to develop a water-fueled motorbike. Yes, we are talking about Yamaha, who recently previewed the XT 500 H2O water-powered motorcycle concept. 

Yamaha started creating this futuristic motorcycle back in 2016 and expected to launch it by 2025. The industrial designer of the company, Maxime Lefebvre, is the person behind the concept who imagined a motorcycle using water as a propulsion source.

The upcoming Yamaha XT 500 H2O will have a closed-loop H20 motor instead of a fuel one. It will be powered by a water pump that basically cycles water and provides a means of propulsion, which means it will be environment friendly as well as economical for potential owners. At this point of time, Yamaha did not reveal a more specific explanation about how the said engine would work. 

This is not the first time when water is used as an alternative fuel; prior to this, there are a few instances of inventors developing motorcycles and cars that run on water. However, XT 500 H2O will be the first commercial model coming from the house of a mainstream motorcycle maker.

Another big highlight of this concept is its alien styling. Though it is a revival of Yamaha’s legendary 1975 XT 500 dual-purpose motorcycle, the concept sketches reveal a minimalistic design with floating panels and a supermoto style seat. The uber-cool white tyres blending seamlessly with the anodised blue finished bike. And, the tail end features a tiny LED brake light and a dual-pronged mudguard, the latter seems to be there for aesthetics purposes only. Overall, this is a truly inventive look.

If Yamaha would be able to bring a production-ready water-powered motorcycle in the market, it will be really the next big thing of this decade.

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