Author Topic: Yamaha’s Exquisite Electric Motorcycles Will Soon Hit the Streets (Read 7223 times)

Jim · « **on:** April 27, 2014, 02:56:22 PM »

Full article, with youtube vid, at the link:
http://www.wired.com/2014/04/yamaha-electric-motorcycles/

Tesla Motors proved electric cars can be sexy, and Yamaha is out to show electric motorcycles can be, too.

We already knew that, of course, having ridden the utterly amazing Mission RS electric superbike. But it’s still nice to see a pair of sexy machines from Yamaha, which will help push electric motorcycles a little further into the mainstream when it starts selling them… soon. Buried within Yamaha’s 2013 annual report is a brief mention of the PES1 and PED1 electric motorcycles, “which we aim to launch in the near future.”

kneescrubber · « **Reply #1 on:** April 27, 2014, 03:47:34 PM »

I know it's the future. But I seriously doubt I'll ever own one. They have a very long way to go to supplant fossil fuels.

I'm guessing the faux gas tank is now storage?

oilhed · « **Reply #2 on:** April 27, 2014, 04:20:00 PM »

My thing with motorcycles is a 200 mi range, a 500 mi. day and camping off the beaten path. That and electrics aren't compatible. But an electric scooter with the looks of a Vespa would be tempting.

Mark F.
aka OILHED
Central CT

CLAY · « **Reply #3 on:** May 14, 2014, 07:17:02 AM »

I would be tempted to buy one as a commuter bike.

SuperHans · « **Reply #4 on:** May 14, 2014, 08:20:59 AM »

I don't know a lot about electric vehicles, but I do know they tend to have shorter ranges. I would assume the recharge time is a lot longer than the refuel time of a fossil fuel vehicle. If it takes me 5 minutes to refuel a fossil fuel vehicle and say 5 hours to recharge an electric, it's just not feasible for me.

I can't imagine running out of juice and not having a simple way to make the bike go again. You cant just walk down the street and get a gallon of electrons to put in the tank.

HipGnosis · « **Reply #5 on:** May 14, 2014, 08:46:24 AM »

Quote from: SuperHans on May 14, 2014, 08:20:59 AM

I don't know a lot about electric vehicles, but ...
I can't imagine running out of juice and not having a simple way to make the bike go again. You cant just walk down the street and get a gallon of electrons to put in the tank.

You pretty near can; http://www.plugshare.com/

Black Hills · « **Reply #6 on:** May 14, 2014, 08:52:08 AM »

Quote from: CLAY on May 14, 2014, 07:17:02 AM

I would be tempted to buy one as a commuter bike.

exactly. most the time when I hop on my bike it is for less than 100 miles. Of course you would then need at least 2 bikes, but that's not a bad thing

SuperHans · « **Reply #7 on:** May 14, 2014, 08:53:34 AM »

Quote from: HipGnosis on May 14, 2014, 08:46:24 AM

Quote from: SuperHans on May 14, 2014, 08:20:59 AM
I don't know a lot about electric vehicles, but ...
I can't imagine running out of juice and not having a simple way to make the bike go again. You cant just walk down the street and get a gallon of electrons to put in the tank.

You pretty near can; http://www.plugshare.com/

Still pretty sparse and doesn't really answer my time to charge question.

miles · « **Reply #8 on:** May 14, 2014, 08:56:03 AM »

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kneescrubber · « **Reply #9 on:** May 14, 2014, 09:02:03 AM »

Quote from: miles on May 14, 2014, 08:56:03 AM

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Very pretty. Wheels are cool too.

JReazor · « **Reply #10 on:** May 14, 2014, 10:32:24 AM »

Quote from: oilhed on April 27, 2014, 04:20:00 PM

My thing with motorcycles is a 200 mi range, a 500 mi. day and camping off the beaten path. That and electrics aren't compatible. But an electric scooter with the looks of a Vespa would be tempting.

Mark F.
aka OILHED
Central CT

Yeah, it's a different tool for a different job. I could not have an electric as my only bike at this point but it would make a fine second bike.

squeezer · « **Reply #11 on:** May 14, 2014, 11:05:15 AM »

Quote from: JReazor on May 14, 2014, 10:32:24 AM

Yeah, it's a different tool for a different job. I could not have an electric as my only bike at this point but it would make a fine second bike.

I'm right there. I kind of assume I'll own one eventually. It won't be the next bike I buy because they don't yet do what I want from a bike. They get closer all the time, though.

And, yes, the Yammie is purty.

oilhed · « **Reply #12 on:** May 14, 2014, 08:48:24 PM »

I think the electric bike is suited to a Scooter not a Motorcycle.

Like an old Cushman.

Mark F.
aka OILHED
Central CT

Jim · « **Reply #13 on:** May 14, 2014, 09:40:08 PM »

From the above pic... No rear wheel friction brake? It uses regenerative with the front for holding (and stopping)?

kneescrubber · « **Reply #14 on:** May 14, 2014, 09:48:43 PM »

Quote from: Jim on May 14, 2014, 09:40:08 PM

From the above pic... No rear wheel friction brake? It uses regenerative with the front for holding (and stopping)?

Not according to this pic.

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Jim · « **Reply #15 on:** May 14, 2014, 09:58:54 PM »

miles · « **Reply #16 on:** May 14, 2014, 10:30:45 PM »

I'm sure it has regenerative "engine braking".

The only spec that I can seem to find is 220 pounds curb weight, which is in itself fascinating. My Husky supermoto is 230 pounds, and riding a bike that light is an incredible experience. If the PES-1 can deliver 50hp-equivalent it could be a fantastic track day bike, especially given that electric motors have 100% torque available at any RPM.

miles · « **Reply #17 on:** May 14, 2014, 10:37:59 PM »

The number 1 buyer inhibitor for electric vehicles at this stage is range anxiety. If battery technology advances at its 'current' rate (see what I did there?) and gets us to where a bike can go 200-250 miles on a full charge they would win over most potential buyers.

Keeping the bike phenomenally light (as Yamaha has) is a good step in improving range, but my guess is that in its present stage of development we wouldn't see any more that 70 miles of range, tops.

bluepoof · « **Reply #18 on:** May 14, 2014, 10:47:36 PM »

Regarding electric vehicles, The Oatmeal did a great piece on the Tesla Model S: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla_model_s

"I've used superchargers to top off my battery in as little as twenty minutes" -- the bike will probably have a smaller capacity battery than an electric car, but even if it took an hour to top off a motorcycle battery, that might make short touring feasible (he mentions the car has about a 260 mile range, FWIW).

miles · « **Reply #19 on:** May 14, 2014, 10:55:46 PM »

If Yamaha partners with Tesla to make the supercharging stations available for the bikes, then all of a sudden it looks like an extremely attractive option for local day-long rides.

bluepoof · « **Reply #20 on:** May 15, 2014, 10:35:43 AM »

That would be super awesome!

HipGnosis · « **Reply #21 on:** May 15, 2014, 11:25:23 AM »

Quote from: miles on May 14, 2014, 10:37:59 PM

The number 1 buyer inhibitor for electric vehicles at this stage is range anxiety.

Followed closely by number 2 which is recharge locations and time.

Quote from: miles on May 14, 2014, 10:55:46 PM

If Yamaha partners with Tesla to make the supercharging stations available for the bikes, then all of a sudden it looks like an extremely attractive option for local day-long rides.

SuperCharging stations are being converted to 'Tesla Stations', which can also do battery pack swaps (for the Tesla S).
I just saw a moto-news piece that said E.V. charging stations are standardized / universal. But apparently not all the same.

CLAY · « **Reply #22 on:** May 18, 2014, 06:56:57 AM »

Quote from: miles on May 14, 2014, 10:55:46 PM

If Yamaha partners with Tesla to make the supercharging stations available for the bikes, then all of a sudden it looks like an extremely attractive option for local day-long rides.

Combine it with a plug-in spot at work and it'd be a great bike. Not a tourer, but a great commuter. If you get 250 miles out of a charge and can top it off with a super-charger now you are entering the touring market- plug it in and get lunch.

mugwump · « **Reply #23 on:** May 18, 2014, 03:00:51 PM »