■Equipped with a detachable battery, the cruising range is about 37km
Toward the realization of carbon neutrality, there is a global wave of electrification, not only in cars, but also in motorcycles. Meanwhile, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (hereafter, Yamaha) has announced that it will release a new type of moped-sized EV (electric) scooter "NEO'S" in Europe in March.
Equipped with a removable battery, the cruising range when fully charged is about 37km. It was revealed that it is a new city commuter equipped with an in-wheel motor with a maximum output of 3.4ps.
Neos is an electric scooter that features a stylish body and the agility and smoothness of an EV. According to Yamaha, in Europe, due to changes in urban systems such as entry bans, parking problems, traffic jams, etc., an increasing number of new people are switching from 4-wheeled to 2-wheeled commuting.
In addition, as the conventional 50cc scooter user base is shifting to EV models, it is expected that the demand for electric scooters in the same class will increase in the future.
This model is a strategic model for the electric scooter market developed from such a background. In addition to Europe, we plan to release it in the ASEAN region in the future. Manufacturing is handled by Yamaha Motor Vietnam Co., Ltd., a Yamaha group company located in Vietnam.
This model is impressive with its two square headlights attached to the front cowl and its simple and stylish body. The power unit uses a direct-drive in-wheel motor "YIPU II" that reduces drive transmission loss to the rear wheels.
Based on the YIPU used in the EV "Passol" and "EC-03" that Yamaha has sold in the past, this unit has been matured with the latest technology.
It features a brushless motor, rear brake, MCU (motor control unit) that controls output reflecting the battery and driving conditions, hub, etc. integrated with the rear arm. Since the unit is bolted to the rim, it is easy to maintain when changing tires.
The rated output is 2.3 kW, the maximum output is 3.4 ps, and the maximum torque is 13.9 kgf-m. The specially developed air-cooled brushless motor exhibits high torque in the low rotation range, realizing agile, smooth, and extremely quiet driving performance in urban areas.
The power supply uses a high energy density 50.4V lithium-ion battery that produces high output. Using the included dedicated charger (portable charger), it can be charged from a household power supply (AC220V, 2-prong plug).
It takes about 8 hours to fully charge. Since the battery can be removed, it can be charged not only in a vehicle, but also in a house.
In addition, the cruising range on a full charge is about 37km. If used in combination with a second battery (sold separately), it is possible to extend the cruising range to approximately 68km.
In addition, the body adopts a specially designed backbone type frame with a balance of strength and rigidity. Equipped with a new 10-spoke aluminum die-cast front wheel.
For this model, there is no announcement about domestic sales at the moment. Japanese law stipulates that the rated output of a type of moped is 0.6 kW or less, so if the Neos were to be marketed in Japan, it would be necessary to reduce the rated output of the European specification of 2.3 kW.
By the way, currently, Yamaha's only one type of moped scooter for the Japanese market is the "E-Vino". In the future, if the demand for EV bikes rises in Japan, it may be possible to introduce such models domestically.
The price of the Neos European specification is 2999 euros (about 384,000 yen).
(Text: Naoki Hiratsuka)
