Piaggio and Autoliv: airbags for motorcycles and scooters

Until now, the trend in the two-wheeled vehicle segment has been towards airbags integrated into clothing. Honda only offers its Gold Wing with an optional airbag. Piaggio and Autoliv want to change that with a collaboration announced at EICMA 2021 and are jointly developing two-wheel airbag systems.

The Swedes specialize in air cushion technologies. The development contract, concluded in 2021, provides for the permanent installation of airbag systems on the vehicle. According to Autoliv, it initially developed two-wheel airbag concepts using simulation tools and carried out extensive crash tests. With Piaggio, the systems will be developed to be ready for serial production and also commercialized.

It seems that the successful Piaggio MP3 scooter will be the first to look forward to the upcoming developments. Like the Honda Gold Wing, it is well suited to airbag technology due to its low center of gravity and long wheelbase. In the event of a frontal collision, for example with a car, it cannot roll forward so easily.

The combined airbag design of Autoliv and Piaggio features a particularly large airbag. When folded, it stows full width behind the fairing, just below the handlebars. As we know it from airbags in cars, it is located behind a cover that opens in fractions of a second when the airbag is inflated by an electrically powered chemical gas generator. The gap in the bonnet is designed in such a way that it directs the airbag up towards the upper body and head and fills the space between the driver and the steering wheel.

Autoliv is the world’s largest automotive safety supplier and has filed numerous patent applications related to airbags for motorcycles and scooters. It is possible that future developments will not be reserved for Piaggio only. One of these new developments, which is being developed in collaboration with helmet manufacturer Airoh, here we have already presented you with the air-cushioned motorcycle helmet at EICMA 2022.

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Conclusion

Airbags on motorcycles or scooters have not yet been a success story. But now there are indications that many advances, such as airbags in scooters and motorcycle helmets, could soon become part of the equipment.