Honda’s boosted V3 engine is equipped with an electrical compressor
These are images of Honda’s boosted V3 … but it’s not boosted in the way you might think. Rather than an exhaust-driven turbocharger or a mechanically-driven supercharger, this V3 engine is boosted by an electrical compressor.
According to Honda, which first showed the concept at this year’s EICMA show, the water-cooled 75-degree V3 engine is being developed for larger displacement motorcycles… and it has been designed to be extremely slim and compact.
Uniquely, the new V3 engine features the world’s first electrical compressor for motorcycles, which is claimed to be able to control compression of the intake air irrespective of engine speed, meaning that high-response torque can be delivered even from low rpm – in other words, no turbo lag.
Honda adds that the electrical compressor allows a high degree of freedom of layout of all components, as well as efficient centralisation of mass. It also does not require any form of intercooler.
Honda says it sees the development of this new V3 engine with an electrical compressor as a new challenge in the area of internal combustion engines, and that it plans to apply the new V3 engine to larger displacement models in the future, and will continue its development toward mass production.
The concept bike to which the new boosted powerplant is fitted is clearly of a sporting nature, with a trellis frame and single-sided swingarm, and it highlights just how narrow the new setup is, with the electrical compressor mounted at the top of the engine and painted in red for easy identification.
The compact dimensions of the new boosted V3 engine, and its ability to provide strong torque from low engine revs, means it could eventually see service in a wide range of motorcycles.
