The futuristic Yamaha
PES1 to go on sale in 2016
Yamaha has been testing
the concept of futuristic electric motorcycles since last year, with the PES1 model
making a debut at the Tokyo Motor Show, and now it seems this bike will be
brought to market by 2016. Stating in its 2013 Annual Report, Yahama expressed
delight in joining the revolution of electric vehicle technology: "In
sports motorcycles, we are working to create new value with EV sports
motorcycles, which we aim to launch in the near future, with the development of
the small, on-road sports PES1, which is being developed to expand the scope of
electric vehicles to the off-road world. "In addition to the advantages of
being electrically powered, these motorcycles will offer the operability
expected by existing motorcycle fans, together with a new riding
experience."
The PES1 concept, which
has been tested by Yamaha engineers already, features quick charging swappable
battery packs and it is expected with only two years left of production to go,
the design of the model is reaching its final stages.
Description of Yamaha
PES1 Model
First, the looks:
Clearly intended to convey a lightweight vibe, the hollowed-out tank and seat
subsection combine with the barely-there wheels to turn the typically “dense”
motorcycle aesthetic on its head. The battery is still a lump in the middle.
A double-sided LED
headlight with bug screen from the Cylon school of industrial design lights the
way forward, LED indicators will likely round out the rest if the PES1 makes it
to production. Overall, the bike looks very finished although Yamaha labels it
a prototype. By my approximation, the bike seems to be a few mirrors and turn
signals away from being road ready, however.
Front forks are upside-down types with a
single front disc grabbed by an R6/R1-type radial twin-piston caliper. A monoshock linkage system rides under the
frame and battery box, which takes the place of a gas engine of course.
Yamaha hasn’t given any
specs on battery capacity or motor output, but quick shots of a digital speedo
show a top speed of 100 kph, or about 62 mph.
Another interesting clue about the bike, it’s a
phone, an NTT Docomo X phablet specifically. We featured a local tech outfit
here in Portland that did the same thing with a cyber-retro CB750 and an iPhone. Other manufacturers have also shown
phone-as-display tech; we definitely think it’s a coming tech trend since it
allows riders to use popular phone features such as GPS and also utilize new
Bluetooth-equipped helmets for music, calls and voice-control features. And since
the bike probably won’t run without the phone in place, once you walk away with
the phone in your pocket, the bike is pretty much secure against hot-wire types
of theft.
Will the PES1 make it to market? It looks close
to production, but given designers’ tools such as rapid prototyping, CNC
machining and now 3D printing of just about anything, it’s no longer a
monumental effort to quickly put a nearly-ready looking prototype together.
If it does make it into production, it’s
probably too small for the U.S. market as is, but it could be a hit in crowded
Asian metropolises with their soaring fuel costs, tightening emissions and
pollution problems.
Motorcycle riders surely awaits this PES1
because it will give them a new experience in driving a electric bike.
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