Yamaha Goes Green With New Electric Scooter Hot

Everywhere we turn motorcycle manufacturers keep designing electric motorcycles. Now Yamaha seems to be jumping on the green bandwagon too with their “smart minimal commuter” EC-03.

The zero-emission green scooter has a lithium iron battery pack provided by Sanyo Electric Co., a subsidiary of Panasonic Corp. Riders can get a single recharge from a regular socket for a maximum cruising of 27 miles. For right now engineers suggest not pushing it past 15 miles though, which makes the scooter helpful in shorter city commutes.

Yamaha plans on investing $70 million from now until 2012 in an effort to bring affordable green bike technology to different areas. This and their half-century experience with two wheelers will be the driving force that will take Yamaha to the top of the electric bike market.

The EC-03 debuts in Tokyo this September, and will set you back about $2,700. So far, there are no plans to release the scooter to the U.S. market, but overseas sales will be the barometer for future domestic distribution. So if you’re looking for a trendy way to save the earth, and you happen to be relocating to Tokyo, keep your eyes and ears out for the EC-03.