New Patent Reveals Yamaha's Electric Sports Motorcycle Direction, WN7 Honda as a Comparison

Illustration of Yamaha Proto BEV electric sports motorcycle in a patent document. The design is said to be a reference for the development of Yamaha's future electric highway motorcycle. (SEPEPhoto: Yamaha via Cycle World)

JAKARTA - Yamaha is still developing an electric sports bike for the highway. The clue comes from the latest patent document which shows the design of an electric motorcycle with a similar outline to the BEV Proto, a concept that was once exhibited at the Tokyo Mobility Show.

Cycle World, quoted Tuesday, June 16, reported that Yamaha has been selling electric vehicles for more than two decades, although most of them are scooters for the Asian and European markets. However, electric motorcycles have not been as fast as that to seize the market. Gasoline engines still lead sales. Behind the scenes, research is still underway.

Yamaha's latest patent shows an electric motorcycle with a beam model frame, namely the main frame that stretches from the front to the back of the motorcycle and encloses a large battery. The dimensions look close to the Yamaha YZF-R7.

The difference is that this motorcycle does not look like a track-specific motorcycle like the Proto BEV, but rather it is more geared towards highway use.

The patented part is indeed technical: the brake system. Yamaha does not use a rear brake pedal on the right foot. The rear brake is moved to the left lever on the handlebars, a position usually occupied by the clutch lever on a gasoline motorcycle.

Because it does not use a manual clutch, the lever on the left side is used to operate the rear brake.

The patent also highlights the position of the ABS unit. ABS is an anti-lock braking system that prevents the wheels from locking during hard braking. On most motorcycles, the ABS hydraulic unit is mounted under the seat. Yamaha chose another position: right behind the steering wheel.

The position makes the brake hose to the front and rear master cylinder shorter. According to the patent document, a shorter hose can make the ABS response faster. This claim is interesting, although not entirely new because other manufacturers have used a similar position.

Another clue comes from the charging system. Yamaha's patent features a Mennekes or Type 2 socket, which is a standard electric vehicle charging plug that is widely used in Europe. This socket is also used by Honda WN7.

The system is connected to a charging controller mounted on top of a large rectangular battery. Meanwhile, the motor controller is placed at the bottom of the body, right in front of the electric drive motor.

The battery house is made of die-cast aluminum. Its function is not only to protect the battery, but also to be part of the supporting structure of other components. In an electric motor, the battery is not just an "electric tank". It also determines the weight, stiffness, and character of the motor.

The presence of an AC fast charging port shows that Yamaha is preparing a more serious specification. This motorcycle has the opportunity to use a 7.4 kW charger for single-phase electricity and up to 22 kW for a three-phase system. This means that battery charging can be much faster than a regular home electrical outlet.

Currently, such a configuration is not common in electric motorcycles. Some models that have used it include Zero, Can-Am Pulse and Origin, as well as Honda WN7.

If the Honda WN7 is successful as a high-performance large electric motorcycle from the Big Four of Japan - Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki - Yamaha has room to enter as a competitor.

However, this patent does not mean that the motorcycle is ready to be sold in the near future. What is clear, Yamaha's electric sports motorcycle development is still ongoing.