Yamaha’s PROTO BEV, one form of EV sports bike [Japan Mobility Show 2025]

Driving pleasure doesn’t end with ESG alone

The “PROTO BEV” is one of the prototypes currently under research and development that Yamaha Motor will be exhibiting as a world premiere at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show (October 31st – November 9th).

 This model is not simply an “environmentally friendly motorcycle,” but is positioned as a sports EV model that pursues the riding pleasure that can only be experienced with an EV with a large-capacity battery. What is interesting is that it replaces the “handling stability” and “joy of driving” of internal combustion engine models that Yamaha has cultivated over many years with a new drive system called electrification, and also explores riding quality with an eye toward track driving and the like.

Lightweight and compact design with a driving feel unique to electric vehicles

In developing the PROTO BEV, Yamaha placed emphasis on “making it compact and not heavy even when equipped with a large-capacity battery.” This shows their desire to overcome the issue of “bulky body weight,” which is often an issue with high-power electric models, in a sporty model. Furthermore, the “linear throttle response” and “smooth, powerful acceleration performance” unique to battery EVs have been combined with the “fun to drive” that Yamaha has cultivated over the years, showing their commitment to realizing “controllable stability” and “sense of oneness with the machine” in an EV as well.

The handling and experience systems are also distinctive. The operating interface has been refined to allow the rider to concentrate on “riding itself,” with a simple control system concentrated at the rider’s fingertips and a meter visualizer and sound device that conveys the vehicle’s status visually and audibly. This approach seeks to answer the question, “What is an EV that does not compromise the joy of riding?” even as the trend toward “electric motorcycles” continues.

The significance of the platform and future prospects

The PROTO BEV is positioned merely as a “driving prototype model,” and no details about its commercial release date or specifications have been revealed. However, its very existence demonstrates Yamaha’s stance on “electrification as a form of mobility.” Yamaha is also exhibiting several other next-generation mobility research and development models, including a hybrid (PROTO HEV), a plug-in hybrid (PROTO PHEV), and a hydrogen engine (H2 Buddy Porter Concept), and the PROTO BEV is seen as a “symbol of electric sports models” among them.

As the motorcycle market moves towards electrification, and each manufacturer is putting “environmental performance” at the forefront, Yamaha is exploring how to carry over the essential qualities of a machine – riding and maneuvering – into the EV era, with “FUN to Ride” as its keyword. The PROTO BEV has the potential to be one answer, and as a prototype that can be ridden, it can be seen as a stepping stone to a future commercial model, along with showing the progress of the development.

Notable technology and user experience perspectives

Firstly, the lightweight and compact body design is part of the rider’s perspective, leading to easier handling and reduced strain on the arms, and gives a glimpse of the design philosophy that allows for the enjoyment of riding in a wide range of situations, from around town to on the track. Secondly, the instant torque characteristics and good feel that are unique to electric motors have been carefully refined into Yamaha’s signature “joy of riding,” and it is clear that the intention is to make use of the benefits of EVs in the realm of play, for example, in terms of acceleration when entering corners and accelerating out of them.

Furthermore, in terms of the HMI (Human Machine Interface), the rider is not bombarded with unnecessary information, and an environment has been created where they can “concentrate on driving,” and the visual and sound effects within the meter aim to enhance the sense of unity and immersion with the machine. These points are also an attempt to overcome the problem of EVs tending to be “silent and dull” from the perspective of rider emotion.

It is not yet decided whether it will be commercially released in the future, but the elements cultivated in the PROTO BEV, such as the lightweight technology, battery, drive control, and interface design, could have an impact on Yamaha’s EV model lineup. In addition, as it is positioned as a sports EV model designed for track riding, it is conceivable that it will appeal to a user demographic that is highly compatible with sports bike culture, and in the future it may even pioneer the genre of “sports bikes that are only possible with an EV.” In other words, it is not simply an eco-model, but can also be seen as a turning point in the motorcycle world in the sense that “EV technology creates new riding value.”