Yamaha EC-03 Electric Scooters Added to the MotoGP Paddock Fleet

3 May 2011 -  Following an agreement between the Japanese manufacturer and Dorna Sports, the all-new electric EC-03 will be added to the official paddock scooter fleet for the 2011 FIM MotoGP World Championship racing season. These will join the existing fleet of special Yamaha JogRR MotoGP scooters.

Each unit will be customized with special graphics and logos, reflecting its official MotoGP role. The units were officially presented to Dorna during the race weekend in Estoril, Portugal.

The EC-03 is powered by a 50V lithium-ion battery manufactured by Sanyo and runs on the Yamaha Integrated Power Unit (YIPU). The YIPU comprises a brushless DC motor, control unit, planetary gear transmission and drum brake all integrated into the 12-inch rear wheel. According to the manufacturer, the YIPU develops 1.9hp and has a maximum torque output of 7.1 lb-ft (9.6 Nm). Yamaha also claims a range of 26.7 miles (43 km) at a speed of 18.6 mph (30 km/h) on a windless flat road at a temperature of 77 degrees F while carrying a 121 pound (55 kilos) rider.

The scooter has a range of 27 miles (43 km) when traveling with a fully charged lithium-ion batteries. The EC-03 is said to weigh 123.4 lbs (53 kg), about 30% lighter than the average 50cc gas-powered scooter, and charging the batteries takes around six hours.

“Yamaha’s longstanding relationship with Dorna Sports is a source of continued pride and inspiration to us,” said Raffaella Pasquino, Marketing Manager, Yamaha Motor Europe. “The introduction of the EC-03 to the MotoGP paddock fleet reflects our shared commitment to a greener future”.

“We are pleased to expand our collaboration with Yamaha Motor Europe through this initiative to use environment-friendly vehicles, as it matches our CSR values,” Dorna Sports' Managing Director, Paul Serracanta said in a statement for the press.