Yamaha Officially Unveils Electric Neo’s Scooter

Admin · March 16, 2022

Yamaha’s new all-electric Neo’s scooter is set to enter the European market as a quality alternative to cheaper Chinese models. (Yamaha/)

Just a week after outlining its plan for an electric model range in Europe, Yamaha has officially launched the first bike in that plan—the Neo’s scooter. It’s among the first all-electric models to hit the European market from any of the major Japanese brands, but rather than setting out to hit new highs in terms of range or performance, the Neo’s focuses on affordability. While that means competing in a market already well served by a host of little-known Chinese brands, often with even cheaper machines, the combination of Yamaha’s brand name and accessible dealer network could be what’s needed to add an injection of growth into a segment where sales are accelerating faster than the number of bikes that populate it.

With a top speed of 28mph and peak power of just 3.35 hp, the Neo’s is aimed squarely at inner city commuters. (Yamaha/)

Marketed into the moped category, which in European markets means a top speed limited to just 28 mph and the availability of licenses to 16-year-olds (lowered to 14 in some countries), the Neo’s isn’t about performance. The bike’s hub-mounted motor is rated at 2.3kW, equivalent to 3 hp, which is reached at just 424 rpm, although it can manage slightly more peak power—2.5kW, or 3.35 hp—for shorter periods. That absolute max comes, somewhat counterintuitively, at lower revs of only 400 rpm. This low-revving nature of the electric motor eliminates the need for a reduction gearbox, which helps efficiency, and is emphasized even more by the fact that the peak torque of 100 pound-feet comes at only 50 rpm. With the motor inside the wheel hub and the control electronics mounted inside the single-sided swingarm, there’s space for the battery under the rider’s seat without completely sacrificing luggage space.

Related: Yamaha Outlines Its Electric Plans

With the air-cooled electric motor in the hub and electronics tucked into the swingarm, there’s space under the seat for an additional battery or just more cargo. (Yamaha/)

As standard the Neo’s comes with a single 50.4-volt, 19.2Ah lithium-ion battery, weighing in at just under 18 pounds, which can be removed to be charged; the Neo’s is targeting urbanites who are unlikely to have off-road parking and charging facilities. That pack gives the bike a claimed range of just 23 miles and takes eight hours to charge via the 220–240V electric sockets that are the norm in Europe. The Neo’s isn’t going to be a bike for road trips, or even for all-day delivery riders unless they have a hoard of spare batteries to swap into the bike when needed.

The Neo’s comes standard with one removable 19.2Ah battery under the seat, taking eight hours for a full charge and yielding a claimed range of just 23 miles. (Yamaha/)

The bike is fitted with a socket for a second battery pack, and there’s space under the seat for that battery if you’re prepared to sacrifice luggage space. When fitted, it ups the range to 42 miles—although it’s worth bearing in mind that those range figures are measured with the batteries at a comfortable 77 degrees Fahrenheit; hit the Neo’s with some cold weather and, like all EVs, it’s likely to suffer a drop in performance.

There is the option to stretch the range a fraction by selecting Eco mode on the minimal digital dash, but that cuts top speed to 22 mph and reduces peak power to 2.12 hp while only adding a couple of miles per charge.

Two selectable ride modes come standard. When paired with Yamaha’s MyRide app, the dash can display additional bike info. (Yamaha/)

In terms of equipment, the Neo’s is pretty spartan, although a proximity key system is standard and the bike ties into the Yamaha MyRide smartphone app to add more functionality to the bike’s dash and give access to charging and battery status on your phone. On the plus side, the minimalism means it’s light for an electric bike, weighing only 216 pounds with a single battery fitted, rising to 234 pounds with two batteries on board. In the UK, the Neo’s comes in at 3,005 pounds sterling. That’s equivalent to around $3,900 and makes the Neo’s a little more expensive than Chinese-made rivals, but perhaps close enough to be worth the value of the familiar brand name and the expected high quality that goes with it.

A 31.3-inch-tall dual seat is fairly generous and passenger pegs are standard, but 3.35 hp will only take two so far. (Yamaha/)
The Neo’s underseat 27-liter storage area has room for one jet-style helmet—unless you stick another battery in there. (Yamaha/)
Yamaha touts the quiet operation of the direct drive brushless motor inside the wheel hub. (Yamaha/)
Lightweight, basic, and priced at around $3,900, the Neo’s will be available first in Europe and the UK in a choice of black or white. (Yamaha/)