Manufacturer | Yamaha Motor Company |
---|---|
Also called | Yamaha EC 02 Yamaha EC 03 |
Production | 2002–2007 |
Class | Electric scooter |
Engine | Brushless DC electric wheel hub motor |
Power | 0.58 kW (0.78 hp) |
Frame type | Aluminum pipe backbone |
Suspension | Telescopic fork |
Brakes | Drum front and rear |
Tires | 60/100-12 |
Wheelbase | 1,040 mm |
Dimensions | L: 1,530 mm W: 600 mm H: 995 mm |
Seat height | 745 mm |
Weight | 44 kg (97 lb) (dry) |
Fuel capacity | 14 Ah battery (Passol) |
Turning radius | 1.6 m |
Related | Yamaha EC-02 |
The Yamaha Passol is an electric scooter manufactured by Yamaha Motor Company beginning in 2002,[1] and sold only in Japan.[2] Weight is 44 kilograms (97 lb) and claimed range 32 kilometres (20 mi).[1] It was described as the first mass-produced electric motorcycle in Japan[3][4] (the Peugeot Scoot'Elec was produced earlier). It has a lithium-ion battery. A Passol-L model with the same motor and bigger battery was released in 2005,[5][6] and a related electric, the EC-02, featuring a built-in iPod dock, also was released in 2005.[7]
A recall for battery problems in the Passol and EC-02 was issued in late 2006,[8] followed by the halting of production of all Yamaha electric motorcycles in 2007 due to the recall coupled with weak sales.[3][9]
In 2003, the Passol won the Good Design Gold Award (MITI Prize) from Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry.[10]
In 2004, Japanese long-distance motorcyclist Kanichi Fujiwara set off to circumnavigate the world on a Passol.[11] It may have been the first global circumnavigation by electric two-wheeler.[12]
In 2004, Yamaha won the Hong Kong Design Centre's Design for Asia Award for Product Design for the Passol.[4]
A Passol was exhibited in an international show on Japanese design at Metropolitan State College of Denver's Center for Visual Art in 2005.[13]
Specifications in infobox from Ono n.d.:6.