Yamaha Europe “Switches On” Plans for Electrical Mobility

Yamaha Motor Europe outlined its plans for electrical two-wheelers, revealing a variety of scooters, bicycles and a moped. The announcement confirmed our report final week that it will embody an electrical scooter referred to as the “NEO’s”, however the 50cc-equivalent mannequin was solely scratching the floor.

The presentation supplied a normal define of Yamaha’s strategy to electrification, although it did go away us wanting extra. Whereas electrical motorbike manufacturers like Zero and Energica provide a variety of fashions and Harley-Davidson‘s LiveWire spin-off is making ready to supply its second mannequin in a couple of months, Yamaha is far more conservative about electrification.

Of the fashions talked about, the NEO’s is the one one which go into manufacturing this 12 months. The NEO’s identify (pronounced “Nay-OSS”) has been round since 1997 as a 50cc gas-fueled scooter, and it’ll live on as an electrical mannequin, providing the same stage of efficiency. As we reported, the brand new NEO’s will probably be primarily based on the E02 idea proven on the 2019 Tokyo Motor Present.

The 50cc scooter class was once extra standard in Europe, however as Paolo Pavesio, advertising and marketing and motorsport director for Yamaha Motor Europe, explains, harder emissions controls and the prevalence of extra highly effective 125cc scooters has eaten away on the class. There’s nonetheless a spot for automobiles of this stage of efficiency, nonetheless, and Yamaha sees it as a a logical goal for electrification. Yamaha will launch additional particulars concerning the NEO’s within the weeks forward, nevertheless it did affirm the NEO’s will use detachable batteries.

The second electrical scooter, a 125cc-equivalent mannequin, will probably be a for much longer time coming. Based mostly on the E01 idea additionally proven in 2019, the as-yet-unnamed mannequin (“E-Max” appears the apparent alternative, however Yamaha’s branding appears to deal with incorporating a stylized “O” someplace, so we’ll stick to the idea identify for now) will probably be launched in a European metropolis as a vehicle-sharing fleet mannequin. Yamaha will use the automobile sharing as a proof of idea, and to collect knowledge for a shopper launch in two to 3 years.



Yamaha additionally introduced three ebike prototypes, a mountain bike, a touring bike and an city mannequin, all powered by Yamaha’s electrical drive models. Specs for the three bicycles will probably be launched in the summertime, with a goal launch of late 2022.

The presentation concluded with a moped mannequin referred to as the B01. The B01 was designed in collaboration with Fantic Motors, and really carefully resembles its Issimo Enjoyable. The Issimo Enjoyable is supplied with a 250 watt motor producing a claimed 59 lb-ft. of torque, with energy equipped by a 630Wh 36 volt lithium-ion battery.

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