Yamaha launches electric business scooters Gear Rev and News Gear Rev

Yamaha has introduced two new electric business scooters, the ‘Gear Rev’ and ‘News Gear Rev’, designed to succeed the long-running gasoline-powered ‘Gear’ series. These new models transition from a 49cc engine to an electric motor system.

The scooters utilize two detachable ‘Honda Mobile Power Pack e:’ lithium-ion batteries as their power source. To improve maneuverability in tight spaces, the vehicles feature a ‘reverse assist function’ that allows the rider to back up the scooter using a specific switch combination. The ‘News Gear Rev’ variant is specifically optimized for newspaper delivery with an enlarged front basket.

Charging a full set of batteries takes approximately six hours via an external charger. Alternatively, users can utilize the ‘Gachaco’ battery-sharing service to swap depleted batteries for charged ones. The models are eligible for the Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) subsidy in Japan, which can significantly reduce the effective purchase price when combined with local municipal grants.