Yamaha to ‘Explore Collaborative Avenues’ After EV Partnership
Yamaha and the electric off-road motorcycle maker Electric Motion to further explore the electric two-wheeled space
Yamaha is looking to strengthen its presence in the electric motorcycle sphere, as it joins forces with the dedicated electric off-road brand Electric Motion (EM).
EM has, for a number of years now, been making top-spec electric trials and enduro bikes, all of which have received critical acclaim from the press and experts in the off-road sector. Two of its Electric Motion Epure Race machines, ridden by UK EM distributor (and owner of Inch Perfect Trials) Matty Alpe, and TrailE champion Gaël Chatagno, finished the gruelling Scottish Six Days Trail event. The team received special dispensation from event organisers, allowing them to swap out depleted batteries for fresh ones, rather than wait for them to recharge.
It’s this knowledge and experience of the electric sector as a whole that Yamaha is looking to tap into, and it’s hoped that the partnership between the two brands will help strengthen and bolster the profiles of each entity.
Confirming the news via a press release, a statement from Yamaha reads, “Yamaha Motor announces that it has invested in French EV company Electric Motion SAS, a company that develops and manufactures electric motorcycles for trials and off-road riding.”
While the statement doesn’t tell us precisely what a Yamaha EV benefiting from this agreement could look like, it does allude to an offering in the same vein as EM’s existing bikes - or a ‘competition’ model at least. It reads “The aim of this investment is to raise the presence of both companies in the electric motorcycle market as well as to delve into the possibilities available with electric motorcycles for competition.”
Yamaha’s current crop of battery-powered motorcycles includes the Booster, a chunky wheeled pedal-assist bicycle, and the Neo, a cutesy urban scooter equivalent to a 50cc moped. It has though shown a number of electrically-powered concept bikes, including the PES1, a very futuristic lightweight bike (seen above), the wild-looking, and self-balancing, Motoroid, and most tellingly the TY-E and TY-E 2.0 (the latter of which can be seen at the top of page) electric trial bikes. Yamaha may have some unfinished business with this platform that it’s looking for EM to help it complete.
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
