After teasing concept art at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2019, it appears the Yamaha electric scooters are finally headed for production.
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Titled the E01 and E02, the electric scooters will feature two performance envelopes for different riders. Let’s break them down in turn.
Yamaha E01
The E01 is the larger of the two e-scooters, capable of seating two and boasting a power output of around 11 kW.
While the motor may run hotter, you’ll get 15 horsepower which should be good for over 80 km/h (50 mph). That put’s the electric scooter in league with 125cc gas-powered equivalents.
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The center frame appears to be where the large battery pack resides, filling the space of a traditional scooter’s step-through area. However, that means it’s non-removable.
We also spot a charger port on the scooter’s front, allowing for convenient charging with nose-first parking.
Yamaha E02
The smaller E02 will likely fall into the 50cc class equivalent, accessible to riders with a primary driver’s licence.
Expect the electric scooter to have a lower power motor of around 4 kW and a slower top speed of around 45 km/h (28 mph).
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Despite its smaller size, the E02 can also seat two riders. Furthermore, the E02 will likely feature removable batteries since they need to be lighter and utilize a small capacity.
Yamaha’s previous partnerships with Gorgoro could mean the E02 might feature similar self-serve batteries swap capabilities.
The Gogoro method overcomes range limitations, allowing scooter riders to quickly pop in a freshly charged power cell purchased from a vending-style kiosk. The swap concept is gaining traction across Asia, as it cuts down on pollution and is generally cheaper and easier to use.
Yamaha has yet to announce an exact date for either scooter’s production version unveiling. However, the company is confident that 2022 is the year.
At this point, the new Yamaha e-scooters won’t hit the U.S. market, but they will roll out across Asia and Europe next year.