The e-Bike Prototype

From the late 1970s, Yamaha Motor began looking for possible ways to address various societal issues in Japan, from problems in the energy sector, local environmental challenges, and traffic congestion to the country’s falling birthrate and rapidly aging population. We eventually turned our eyes to the bicycle and its advantages as one of the original means for greater personal mobility. To retain the ease and convenience of a bicycle while effectively compensating for its inherent weaknesses, like difficulty going up slopes, into headwinds, or riding with luggage, Yamaha developed a prototype personal commuter vehicle anyone could enjoy riding that used an electric motor to provide additional power proportional to the user’s own pedalling force.