Yamaha go back to the future: Electric and self-driving prototypes set for Japan Mobility Show debut

Following announcements from Honda and Suzuki earlier this month, Yamaha have now confirmed that we’ll see a range of electric, self-driving, and even hydrogen-powered concept machines at the upcoming Japan Mobility Show.

Six all-new Yamahas are set to receive their world premieres, among them a wacky three-wheeler electric car and an off-road buggy using a hydrogen engine derived from the R1 superbike.

With only top line information currently available, the main interest for bikers will likely be Yamaha’s four new two (and three) wheeled concept machines.

These are: the E-FV, a sporty electric ‘fun’ bike; the ELOVE, an autonomous, self-riding electric scooter; the TMW, a hybrid, off-road, leaning three-wheeler and MOTOROiD2, a ‘robot bike’ which is an evolution of Yamaha’s original 2017 MOTOROiD concept.

All four follow Honda’s announcement of an SC E electric scooter, plus Suzuki’s prototype hydrogen powered Burgman electric and e-Burgman scooters, which are also set to be at the show.

Back to Yamaha, the EF-V concept machine is an electric mini bike designed to explore the kind of enjoyment currently possible with battery power.

It uses the same power unit as Yamaha’s TY-E electric trials bike, has no gears or clutch and borrows tech from Yamaha Corporation’s Active Sound Control department to create a range of petrol-powered exhaust notes when starting it up or turning it off.

Elsewhere, the ELOVE concept is an electric scooter that has ‘self-riding’ abilities. Using technologies that were developed with Motobot, Yamaha’s R1-riding robot from 2015, it’s an electric scooter that adopts something called the Advanced Motorcycle Stabilisation Assist System (AMSAS) and is intended to: “free users from the worry and fatigue that accompanies riding at very slow, walking speeds in particular and helps make motorcycling safer and more enjoyable.”

The TMW concept machine was inspired by Yamaha’s production Niken and is not only the company’s first off-road, adventure-style ‘Leaning Multi-Wheeler’, it’s also a hybrid, with both electric and conventional ICE power. Electric hub motors drive the two front wheels, while the rear wheel is driven by the engine.

Finally, the eye grabbing MOTOROiD2 is an evolution of 2017’s original MOTOROiD prototype which, through advanced technologies such self-balancing and image recognition AI, is intended to explore closer relationships between rider and machine.

To that end, Yamaha say it can recognise its owner, get off its kickstand, and move alongside its rider independently. In addition, and this is where it gets slightly weird, Yamaha says it also: “has a distinctly lifelike feel when somebody is riding on its back and has a presence more like a lifetime companion…”

The Japan Mobility Show is to be held from October 26 to November 5 in Tokyo.