Yamaha is working on a high-performance electric sports bike. So far, the visible work is in the form of patents, focusing on maximizing space for batteries and weight considerations.
With electric mobility becoming increasingly popular, ideas and projects are emerging from various manufacturers – both conventional ones and those focused exclusively on electric motorcycles. Yamaha itself presented the concepts PES 1 and PES 2 (in the picture) about a decade ago.
According to CycleWorld.com, a new patent submitted by Yamaha reveals a sports bike with a conventional chassis, featuring a trellis front frame and an aluminum swingarm pivot, encircling a compartment housing the batteries and electronics.
The proposed design maximizes battery space and positions the electric motor as far back as possible, resulting in a particularly high rear shock absorber. The motor drives the front sprocket through a reduction gearbox.
The main focus of the design is the battery compartment, which has been simplified, with air cooling – allowing for weight reduction. Cooling is crucial as batteries are particularly temperature-sensitive. This option also helps reduce costs and complexity.
The patented design minimizes seams, reducing the chance of water infiltration. There are four platforms inside, each for two battery modules. The sides and bottom of the compartment have «fins» for cooling, increasing surface area for heat dissipation while adding rigidity without increasing weight.
The battery management system and electronic control are positioned above the upper battery modules, while the inverter is located below the bike’s «belly», and the charger is situated under the seat.
Naturally, there is still limited information on the potential performance of these concepts – or whether they will ever become an actual model that moves beyond the design stage.