Yamaha unleashes electric scooter

Yahama is charging into the electric vehicle era with plans to develop a range of zero emission motorcycles over the next half decade.

The first model to hit the streets is a compact scooter weighing just 56kg, the EC-03 (pictured).

Launched in Japan this week, the new scooter will be the first of several all-electric two-wheelers from the company, a range that will initially comprise scooters but is expected to evolve into fully-fledged motorcycles by 2015.

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One of the sticking points for electric bikes, and this is also a big issue facing the emerging electric car market, is the travelling range. Or lack thereof.

The Yamaha EC-03 has a range of 43 kilometres when travelling at around 30km/h with fully charged lithium-ion batteries.

Yamaha says that despite a low cruising range, it wants to get a foothold on the emerging electric vehicle market, and this is just a first step.

Peak power from the electric motor is 1.9hp (1.4kW), but almost 10Nm of torque is on tap which should ensure snappy acceleration. There's a standard mode and also a power mode, designed for "hilly roads".

Charging the EC-03's batteries takes around six hours, and the scooter costs ¥ 252,000 (A$3250). Yamaha expects to sell around 1000 units in Japan, and will launch the EC-03 in Europe in 2011.

No word on whether it will be coming to Australia at this stage.