Renewed hopes that hydrogen could replace petrol power in the future. BMF News 14 June 2022 Bosch has thrown its weight behind the use of hydrogen in place of fossil fuels, renewing hopes that hydrogen could replace petrol power in the future. However, getting to the hydrogen economy isn’t quite as simple as it seems. On paper, it looks beguiling, and several motorcycle manufacturers have been working on hydrogen power. Yamaha is helping Toyota develop a hydrogen car engine while Kawasaki is working on a hydrogen version of its existing H2 piston engine. Hydrogen can also power fuel cells, which produce electricity to supply an electric motor, just as a battery would – fuel cells are lighter than a conventional lithium-ion battery and promise a potentially longer range. A hydrogen-powered bike would also have zero emissions at
Honda developing rider assist technology BMF News 5 June 20221 June 2022 Honda has patented a system which moves the autonomous motorcycle a big step closer – but motorcycles are still way behind cars in the development of self-driving/riding. The trend towards autonomous cars seems unstoppable – Germany and Japan have approved ‘Level 3’ autonomy (the official SAE classification, highly automated driving on motorways) with the UK and other EU countries expected to follow suit, while Germany is also anticipating being the first country to approve SAE Level 4 (highly automated in ‘most driving situations.’) Motorcycle manufacturers are certainly working on this. BMW showed a riderless GS to journalists in 2018, Yamaha has developed a steering-assist system for motocross bikes and many production bikes already have radar-based systems to warn riders of nearby vehicles,
France and UK debate the meaning of ‘means of transport’ FEMA News 2 June 2022 Just when we thought the problems with transporting a motorcycle or a car from the UK to the European Union were solved, new problems arise. After the European Commission confirmed that transporting a motorcycle or a car (‘means of transport’) from the United Kingdom to the continent should not be a problem, a discussion has started among French and British customs authorities about when a motorcycle or car is a ‘means of transport’. This is an ongoing subject, expect more updates. In the latest twist in the issue of customs formalities when transporting motorcycles across the EU/UK border in vans or on trailers, FEMA, NMC (National Motorcyclists Council UK) and FIVA, the historic vehicle federation, have received updated advice from the UK Government
DVSA clamps down on MOT fraud BMF News 1 June 20221 June 2022 Over 280 Authorised Examiners were banned from running MOTs in 2021/22, in a clampdown by the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency). It also banned 127 Examiners from running Vehicle Testing Stations, with some facing jail sentences. The DVSA chose to make the figures public to highlight the issue of fraudulent MOTs, which it takes very seriously. Detecting dodgy MOTs has become easier since new technology enabled the government agency to detect where vehicles are. “The latest technology and intelligence-based targeting allows us to track vehicle movements,” according to a DVSA statement, “meaning we know where vehicles are, and where they’re not. We can then compare this with MOT test data to ensure the right outcome.” In 2021/22 it found 1,324 incidents
FEMA survey: ‘Motorcycle parking should be free’ FEMA News 24 May 2022 Let us choose where to park safely and don’t ‘punish’ us by making us pay for our smart mobility choice; Europe’s motorcyclists are very outspoken when it comes to motorcycle parking. More and more authorities introduce restrictions on where a motorcycle can be parked. We also see a rise in the number of paid parking spaces dedicated to motorcycles. FEMA wanted to know how European motorcyclists feel about this and conducted an online survey on motorcycle parking. The overall conclusion of the survey is that riders from all over Europe want to be able to park their bike anywhere, as long as it does not cause nuisance for pedestrians and other road users. An impressive 88.94% of the respondents say motorcycles should
BMW goes back to basics BMF News 23 May 202220 May 2022 BMW has filed a patent for 'adjustable air deflectors' to improve comfort at low speed and aerodynamic efficiency when tanking along. The surprise, given the German company's love of complex high tech, is that the new system doesn't use electronics or clever speed sensors – just good old-fashioned springs. Moto Guzzi's new V100 Mandello has adaptive bodywork with the same end in mind – moveable flaps in the fairing are flush at high speed, but move outwards into the air stream to reduce turbulence when cruising more slowly. Servo motors move the flaps, controlled by electronics. BMW's system is much simpler. The flaps are hinged at their forward end and held open by springs. The faster you go, the air pressure increases,
Speed limiters mandatory for cars from July BMF News 21 May 202220 May 2022 Speed limiters will mandatory on all new cars sold in the UK from 6th July, but the new law doesn't apply to motorcycles. Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) is a software system which automatically limits speed to whatever limit is prevailing, though it can be overridden by the driver. Many car manufacturers already fit ISA, including Ford, Mercedes, Peugeot/Citroen, Volvo and Renault. Anna Zee, Political and Technical Services Director of the BMF, explained the context. “ISA is part of the General Safety Regulation (GSR) passed by the EU in October 2021 and includes a number of items besides ISA, such as Automatic Emergency Braking. Yes, we will see this on cars sold in the UK because there is no law to say they
NMC Calls on The Government to Show More Ambition on Motorcycle Decarbonisation NMC News 20 May 2022 Net zero motorcycling should be about much more than just battery electric motorcycles and arbitrary UK-only targets The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has today published its position on motorcycle decarbonisation and its policy on the potential end of internal combustion engine (ICE) production for motorcycles. The position was reached after extensive consultation among motorcycling and other organisations both in the UK and internationally. A target of 2035 has been mooted as the phase out date for all ICE powered motorcycles, with a government consultation on motorcycle decarbonisation due shortly. The NMC opposes an arbitrary target date, given that it is not yet known whether a global manufacturing base can meet a UK-only target with a range of motorcycle types which will have
No customs formalities when bringing UK bikes to the European Union FEMA News 19 May 202219 May 2022 British motorcyclists who had their bike transported to the European Union, often ran into trouble and were confronted with high fines in EU countries. Following action by FEMA, FIVA and NMC, the European Commission has now confirmed to us that taking a motorcycle or a car with you from the United Kingdom to the continent should not be a problem. It may sound strange for many of us, but a large number of British residents do not ride their bike to the continent, but put them in a van or a trailer, or hire a shipping company to transport the bike to the area where they want to ride with it. Also, owners of historic vehicles are used to transport their vehicle
Noise cameras to trial in England and Wales BMF News 16 May 202213 May 2022 Noise cameras will be trialled in four areas of England and Wales this summer – the BMF has already reported that Paris had begun the widespread use of noise cameras (see here), which can automatically detect individual cars and bikes breaking noise limits. The cameras can also provide real-time reports which are acceptable to the police as evidence. Noise cameras are already in limited use by Westminster Council around Waterloo Place and Exhibition Road, but this new move could be the precursor to a nationwide roll-out of the new technology. The location of the four trial areas has yet to be decided, but Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is inviting residents to lobby their MP to submit applications to take part. “We want