●Written by/Hiroaki Numao ●Photo by/YAMAHA, DUCATI
In Europe, Yamaha unveiled its new "Switch ON" strategy for electric motorcycles, showing off 125cc and 50cc equivalent electric scooters.
Yamaha's 1st 125cc electric scooter will be tested in Japan and is expected to be launched commercially in 2 to 3 years, while the 50cc version has been released in Europe in April and will eventually be available in Japan? Let us give you an update on the latest developments in electric motorcycles.
- As many as 6 new units were unveiled, featuring a logo that blends the blue of Yamaha with clean green.
- Yamaha's 1st 125cc electric motorcycle to go on the market in 2 to 3 years after demonstration tests
- Will there be a 50cc electric scooter to replace the E-Vino in Japan?
- Stylish new e-bike to be launched in the second half of 2022
As many as 6 new units were unveiled, featuring a logo that blends the blue of Yamaha with clean green.
Yamaha is an ambitious manufacturer of electric models: it was one of the first to introduce an electric scooter concept, the Frog, at the 1991 Tokyo Motor Show, followed 2 years later by the release of the PAS electrically power-assisted bicycle. In November 2002, the company released "Passol," the first electric motorcycle for the general public by a major manufacturer, utilizing PAS technology.
After developing derivative models such as the EC-02, the E-Vino made its debut in 2015. It is currently the only electric motorcycle from a leading motorcycle manufacturer that can be purchased by the general public in Japan, and it became famous on a variety show featuring Tetsuro Degawa.
On March 3, Yamaha announced its "Switch ON" electrification strategy in Europe. Although Honda and Kawasaki have also announced plans for electrification among Japanese manufacturers, this is a more realistic and speedy strategy.
A total of 6 electric models appeared in the video presented. The electric scooters unveiled were the NEOS, which is 50cc equivalent with an engine, and the E01, which is 125cc equivalent. In addition, three electrically power-assisted bicycles and a concept e-motorcycle (50cc equivalent) were also unveiled.
In the video, an overview of the "Switch ON" strategy and the timing of the launch of new products was given. The logo represents the image of switching to electric models one after another as if turning on a switch.
The Switch ON logo and the motorcycle name emblem will be blue-green, a combination of Yamaha's image color, race blue, and plant green, a symbol of clean energy. It is called "Aqua" and will be used for many products in the future.
Yamaha's 1st 125cc electric motorcycle to go on the market in 2 to 3 years after demonstration tests
The first model of note is Yamaha's first 125cc electric scooter, the E01. Already shown to the press in Japan at the end of 2021, this will be a version closer to the finished product.
E01, a 125cc equivalent EV scooter with a YZF-R1-style projector LED headlight with a line of sharp LED positions shining above it.
The license plate holder is also mounted on a swing arm that looks rigid. The motor seems to be belt-driven rather than wheeled-in, so expect good power performance.
The E01 concept model was shown at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show; the battery was fixed and fed from the upper cowl. The current version is very similar, with a retractable lid on the face
Details were not announced, but details that were not clearly visible on the outfitting when it was unveiled in Japan were revealed, including a twin-lens headlight reminiscent of the YZF-R1, giving the vehicle a sporty design. The battery is mounted on the bottom of the chassis, and the motor is mounted in front of the swingarm.
Yamaha plans to start demonstration tests in major European cities such as Paris, Milan, and Rome in the spring of 2022, leasing the vehicles to government agencies and local governments, and collecting data for 2 to 3 years before releasing a commercial model. There are plans to conduct similar experiments in Japan, so there may be opportunities to see actual vehicles.
Will there be a 50cc electric scooter to replace the E-Vino in Japan?
The 50cc equivalent "NEOS" is said to have three key words: "smart," "high quality," and "easy access. It has a removable battery and the quality typical of the leading brand Yamaha. It has a design that fits the requirements of a wide range of urbanites.
NEOS, equivalent to a 50cc gasoline engine, with a lightweight, compact chassis, twin LED headlights, and a rounded design for a clean image.
The design exposes part of the battery under the seat. The battery is removable, so it can be replaced with a charged battery and the vehicle is ready to go.
Motor built into rear wheel and rear shock mounted on left side
It features an LCD meter that indicates the remaining battery capacity and speed. A large YAMAHA logo is placed above it. There is also a mode switch on the right-hand side.
According to Yamaha, the European electric scooter market has almost doubled in the past two years. This shows the confidence that they are the choice of even the most discerning users.
More details will be announced within a few weeks of March 3. The product will then be available in Europe this spring. It is expected to have an improved cruising range and other features compared to the current E-Vino, and its appearance in Japan is anticipated.
Stylish new e-bike to be launched in the second half of 2022
Sporty electrically power-assisted bicycles, known as "e-bikes," have been increasingly gaining market share in recent years. Last year, more than 5 million electrically power-assisted bicycles were sold in Europe, partly due to the new Corona. Within a few years, Yamaha predicts that more than 50% of all bicycles sold in Europe will be electrically assisted.
Yamaha's new concept e-bike, B01, presented in the video, will be detailed in the summer of 2022 and will be released in the second half of the year. This is a moped-like model called "s-pedelec" that combines a 50cc equivalent electric unit with an electric bicycle. While lightweight like a bicycle, it is allowed a maximum speed of up to 45 km/h.
The B01 has a truss-structured frame and balloon tires. It pedals like a bicycle and has a maximum speed of 45 km/h. You need a license and a helmet to drive.
The B01 was developed in collaboration with 2 Italian companies, FANTIC and MOTORI MINARELLI, with whom the company has had a close relationship for many years, and is scheduled to go into production within a year starting in 2023.
Incidentally, Ducati also announced three new electric-assist MTB models. Coincidentally, it was unveiled on March 3, the same day as Yamaha's, in Episode 8, the latest chapter of the Ducati World Premiere 2022, and will feature the company's first electrically assisted road motorcycle, the FUTA.
Overseas, Harley, BMW, Triumph, and others have launched e-bikes, and Ducati is also starting to enter the market in 2019.
Ducati's FUTA is built on a carbon monocoque frame; motor weighs only 3.98 kg, and produces 250W & 4.2kg-m.
Yamaha's electric motorcycle offensive is likely to take the shift to EVs for motorcycles one step further. First, please wait for the details of the 50cc and 125cc demonstration tests in Japan, which will be announced soon. After that, when the 50cc model is introduced in Japan, it will surely be the successor to the E-Vino. Its usability is expected to be greatly enhanced, and it will be interesting to see how Tetsuro Degawa's program turns out!
Original Source [ Best Car Web ]
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