Yamaha E01 electric scooter introduced in Japan

- Currently offered on rental basis

- Experimental leasing commenced last year

- Offers 104km range at once

Yamaha Japan has commenced the official rental service for the E01 electric scooter. The brand began an experimental lease program last year to gauge the user pattern and public response. Now, customers can officially rent it from select dealerships across Japan.

The Yamaha E01 is powered by a 4.9kWh, fixed lithium-ion battery mated to an 8.1kW motor. Yamaha claims this e-scooter can offer 104km of range and customers will also be provided with a portable charger if the need be. Moreover, only riders above the age of 20 and with a valid driving license can rent the Yamaha E01. 

On the feature front, the E01 comes with an LCD console that houses the speedometer, battery gauge, odometer, clock, riding modes, GPS connection readouts, and more. It rides on telescopic front forks and dual rear shocks. The braking hardware comprises a single front and rear disc brake mounted on the alloy wheels. 

In the past few months, Yamaha has also showcased the E01 to select dealers in India. But considering the growth of the EV market in India, it seems that the Japanese brand may take a while before launching any of its electric scooters here. However, there are already a handful of manufacturers like Ather, Ola, Bajaj, TVS, Hero, Revolt, and more that cater for this segment now.