Yamaha To Launch River Indie-Based Electric Scooter In India
The Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Yamaha Motor Company is gearing up for the launch of a new electric scooter in India. As per the reports, the new electric scooter from Yamaha will be based on the Bengaluru-based electric scooter manufacturer River Mobility Indie, and it will be making its debut around July and September of this year. The Yamaha EV scooter is expected to use the same powertrain and Battery Management System (BMS) which is currently being offered with the River Indie.
Yamaha electric scooter: Details
Design
The upcoming electric scooter from Yamaha, codenamed RY01, will, although be based on the River Indie mechanically, in terms of design, it will be distinctly Yamaha. As per the reports, it will boast a sporty and premium design. In addition to these, the company will make it more performance-oriented, while the River Indie, on the other hand, is more utilitarian. At the moment, there are no design concepts that have been showcased by Yamaha.
Powertrain
In terms of the powertrain, this soon-to-be-launched electric scooter will get the same electric powertrain as the River Indie. The Bengaluru-based EV scooter maker’s Indie is offered with a 6.7 kW mid-mounted motor. It can reach 0–40 kmph in just 3.9 seconds and achieve a top speed of 90 kmph. The Yamaha scooter will also get three riding modes.
These will be Eco for maximizing range, Ride for daily use, and Rush for fun and peppy rides. According to River Mobility, the Indie offers a 161 km IDC-certified range with its 4 kWh battery pack. The claimed range in the real world is 120 km, and in Ride mode, this scooter offers 90 km of range. Most likely, the Yamaha scooter will also provide the same ranges.
The Yamaha electric scooter could get a 3 kW fast charger, which will help it charge from 0–100 percent in just 1 hour 20 minutes. As for the standard 800W portable charger, it will be able to charge the scooter from 0–80 percent in just 5 hours. Meanwhile, the additional 20 percent to reach 100 percent will take 1.5 hours more.
In terms of features, the electric scooter from Yamaha will most likely get all-LED headlights and taillights, a fully digital LCD display, and two USB ports. It could also get a built-in eSIM providing it OTA connectivity. Yamaha could also add a few more features that will help its electric scooter stand out from the competition.
Speaking of competition, the Yamaha EV scooter will take on rivals like the Ather Energy 450X, Ola Electric S1 Pro, TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, and many others. It is expected that the Yamaha electric scooter could be priced in the range of Rs 1.4–1.6 lakh.
Production plans
As per the reports, the soon-to-be-launched electric scooter from Yamaha is being co-developed by Yamaha’s global engineering teams from Japan, the US, and Europe. These teams are closely working with River Mobility. The new scooter will be manufactured at River Mobility’s state-of-the-art plant in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Once launched, it will be exported to many international markets as well.