2022 Yamaha NEO's, E01 Electric Scooter Details Released

Swappable batteries help extend range, but only to a point

Following the initial announcement of its electric mobility strategy, Yamaha has released full specifications for the NEO’s scooter and confirmed proof-of-concept testing of the larger E01 model will commence in July.

Yamaha has described the NEO’s as providing performance on par with a 50cc gasoline-powered scooter. We now know the NEO’s offers a claimed peak output of 3.4 hp, with a nominal power output of 3.1 hp. This is similar to what you would find on a lot of 50cc scooters from smaller manufacturers, but is down compared to scooters from larger brands like the Honda Ruckus (claiming 4.3 hp at 8000 rpm), Vespa Primavera 50 (claiming 4.6 hp at 9500 rpm), and even Yamaha’s own Zuma 50F, which claims an output of 4.0 hp at 8000 rpm.

Of course, the advantage of electric models like the NEO’s is that power arrives almost immediately. The NEO’s also delivers a boatload of torque, with Yamaha claiming a peak output of 100 lb-ft.

The NEO’s is powered by an air-cooled brushless three-phase synchronous motor mounted to the rear hub, eliminating the need for a drive belt or chain. The NEO’s offers two power modes: STD, which provides full power, and ECO, which maximizes range to a claimed 23.9 miles on a single fully-charged battery. That isn’t much, and considering Yamaha claims a range of 23 miles on STD mode, ECO mode seems almost superfluous if it doesn’t even get you an extra mile.

It does help that the 50.4V/19.2Ah lithium-ion battery is removable, and we can see a lot of prospective owners springing for a second battery. The batteries are located under the seat, and can be charged on its own or while installed on the scooter. Yamaha claims a charge time of eight hours from 0% to full, or four hours to get from 20% to 40%.

Even with a second battery, the NEO’s won’t get you very far, but that’s why it’s an urban mobility vehicle, designed for short trips around city centers. The battery weighs a claimed 17.6 pounds, and when fitted, it brings the claimed weight of the NEO’s up to 216.1 pounds. With two batteries, the weight jumps to a claimed 233.7 pounds.

The chassis consists of an underbone frame with a KYB telescopic fork with 3.5 inches of travel and a single rear shock attached to a single-sided swingarm offering 3.1 inches of travel. The front wheel is equipped with a single hydraulic disc brake while the rear wheel uses a mechanical drum brake.

Visually, the electric NEO’s borrows some styling cues from its predecessor, the gas-burning Neo’s 4. The electric bike has a more modern appearance, but offers a similar twin-headlight design. The NEO’s is produced in Milky White or Midnight Black, with both colorways offering an accent stripe running down the front of the fairing and stripe under the seat in Aqua, a color Yamaha is adopting for its electric two-wheelers.

Other features include an LCD display with smartphone connectivity, a 31.3-inch seat height, 13-inch cast wheels, and a wireless Smart key.

While Yamaha compares the NEO’s to a 50cc scooter in terms of performance, the same cannot be said for its price. Pricing varies from country to country, but in Italy, the NEO’s comes in at 3,199 € (US$3,542), compared to the 2,499 € (US$2,767) price of the gas-consuming 50cc Neo’s 4 and 2,649 € (US$2,933) for the 125cc Yamaha D’elight.

As for the larger E01, Yamaha announced it will begin introducing it in July to cities in Europe, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand for proof-of-concept testing in real world conditions. The E01 will be tested by vehicle sharing programs, government agencies, and other parties.

Yamaha says the E01 provides performance equal to a 50cc to 125cc scooter, with the top speed restricted to 60 kph (37 mph) for testing purposes. Unlike the NEO’s, the E01 will use a fixed battery, with Yamaha claiming a range of 64.6 miles on a full charge.

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