Yamaha EC-06 vs River Indie: Differences explained

It’s no surprise that the recently unveiled Yamaha EC-06 is based on the River Indie. In fact, we were the first ones to break the story that Yamaha is working with the Bengaluru-based startup – River – to develop and produce its first global electric scooter. That said, it's clear that the EC-06 ought to have a lot in common with the Indie; however, it isn’t merely a badge-engineered product and there are several design differences. 

 

For starters, out goes the Indie’s twin-headlight setup, and in comes Yamaha’s relatively conventional vertically stacked headlight arrangement. Even the tail-light differs from the Indie’s rectangular unit. The LED indicators are also positioned above the headlight on the EC-06, unlike on the Indie, where they sit much lower and are prone to breaking – especially considering the hustle and bustle typical of our streets.

 

 

The Indie takes a utilitarian approach to its design, with ‘function over form’ likely being the focal point. This is evident in features, such as pannier stays on both sides and a bag hanger for tethering luggage. The Yamaha counterpart, on the other hand, does away with these entirely and opts for a cleaner look that the brand says has been designed with a younger audience in mind.

 

With a clean design comes lack of storage. One might argue that this isn’t always the case, but in this instance, it certainly is. The River Indie boasts a cavernous 43 litres of under-seat storage and an additional 12 litres of covered storage in the front apron. In contrast, the EC-06 offers a relatively modest 24.5 litres of storage, which Yamaha attributes to the restyling. The EC-06 also misses out on the covered front-apron storage; instead, it houses the charging port and key slot there.

 

While River claims a maximum charge time of 8 hours with a 480W charger for the Indie, Yamaha claims a 9-hour charge time; however, they haven’t disclosed the charging speed. 

Yamaha hasn’t yet revealed prices for the EC-06, but considering that it is related to the River rather closely, we expect it to be priced similarly to the Indie (Rs 1.46 lakh, ex-showroom, Bengaluru), or perhaps slightly more. While the EC-06 wears a Yamaha badge, it will be manufactured entirely at the River factory in Hoskote, Karnataka.