Yamaha seeks summit in e-bikes

The model,priced at 252,000 yen 2,842 in Japan,is similar in size to a 50cc scooter.

Annual demand for electric motorcycles in the three markets is forecast to balloon to 300,000 to 500,000 units in the mid-2010s,from around 10,000 now,Chief Executive Hiroyuki Yanagi told reporters at the unveiling in Tokyo.

Yamaha Motor said it expected demand to swell in China,bringing global appetite to around 1.5 million units a year by 2020. China is already the biggest market for electric bicycles with estimated annual sales of more than 20 million units.

Honda said earlier this year it would begin lease sales of a zero-emission motorbike in Japan in December,with an eye to eventually taking on rivals in China. Honda is aiming to market its yet-to-be-priced EV-neo to commercial users.

Yamaha Motor plans to introduce three or four electric motorcycle models by mid-decade,expanding the line-up towards 2020.

The EC-03,which uses lithium-ion batteries made by Sanyo Electric Co,can be driven 43 km 26.7 miles on a full charge. Yamaha Motor is targeting sales of 1,000 units in Japan in the first year.

Yamaha Motor had discontinued a range of electric scooters sold between 2002 and 2006 in Japan after their lithium-ion batteries,made by a unit of Hitachi Ltd,were recalled.

Honda8217;s EV-neo will use batteries made by Toshiba Corp.