Yamaha unveiled the Proto BEV at the Tokyo Mobility Show late last year as a track-focused electric sportbike concept. However, recently published patent filings suggest that the platform could also spawn a street-legal model with proportions similar to the existing YZF-R7.
- Patent points to a road-going evolution of the Proto BEV concept
- Bike has proportions similar to the YZF-R7
- Comes with a Type 2 charging port
Yamaha electric sportbike: What we know
A Type 2 charging port suggests a sizeable battery pack
The patent drawings do not reveal a great deal about the motorcycle, but some important elements are visible. These include a beam-style frame, a large battery pack and a belt-drive system transmitting power to the rear wheel.
One notable detail is the charging connector, which appears to be the same Type 2 unit seen on Honda's WN7 concept. This is significant because Type 2 charging ports are typically associated with larger battery packs and higher charging capacities than those found on most current electric motorcycles. And like many electric motorcycles, the bike appears to use a hand-operated rear brake lever mounted where the clutch would traditionally sit, rather than a conventional foot-operated rear brake pedal.
The patent itself is understood to focus primarily on a specific aspect of the braking system. Yamaha has positioned the ABS hydraulic unit behind the steering head rather than beneath the seat, a layout that the company says shortens the hydraulic lines connecting the master cylinders and ABS unit.
Yamaha has not disclosed any performance figures, battery specifications or a potential launch timeline. The Proto BEV concept was originally created to explore what the company described as the riding experience of a large-capacity battery-electric sportbike, combining the handling characteristics of its combustion-engined supersports with the instant response of an electric motor. Whether, or when, that translates into a production motorcycle remains to be seen.
Source: CycleWorld
Rishaad Mody
Ved Janve
