Ooh, hello! Honda is developing an electric sidecar

Yup, it looks like Honda is working to bring back the sidecar. Biggles, fetch your jacket and goggles please.

In a patent application published at the end of August (and let's be frank, the picture doesn't give much away), the sidecar would have (at least) one electric motor of its own, and load sensors to monitor yaw torque. That’s important because in the past, sidecars have just been bolted onto the side of a bike, creating issues around balance, handling and performance.

In this instance, Honda’s novel pillion idea means the sidecar is independently powered, and will have its own electronic controller, too. Adjusting the sidecar’s wheel to the force being put on it by the drive of the bike means there should be more ride stability. It’ll also improve the steering capability of the bike, so reckon the engineers. And, er, comfort levels, you'd hope.

The application says the set-up wouldn’t require a specific bike, either. Two bars would enable the sidecar to fix to an existing bike – whether that’s electric, or a conventionally powered two-wheeler. The application states it could even be attached to a scooter. Fun times.

The patent sets out a broad church of how the sidecar’s powertrain could be configured, but finer details aside, we'd just really like a go in one. What say you?