Yamaha unveils electric motocross concept

Yamaha used this year’s annual EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, Italy, to debut their ‘YE-01’ electric motocross bike concept. What Yamaha is calling a fun-based approach to achieving carbon neutrality was developed in collaboration with French electric off-road motorcycle specialists, Electric Motion SAS (EM).

Founded in 2009, and a pioneer in the field of electric trials bikes, EM’s success in the FIM Trial World Championship attracted the attention of Yamaha, who invested in the business in 2024.

While the YE-01’s cycle parts – suspension, brakes, wheels, plastics, etc. - have obviously been lifted from Yamaha’s YZ MX range, with the frame appearing very close to current YZ spec, too, no information on the electric drivetrain provided by EM – motor size, battery capacity, weight, performance or anything else - has been provided.

Yamaha’s press release previewing the bike’s appearance at EICMA only provided a statement about the YE-01 being part of a commitment to electrification and the ‘Yamaha Motor Group Environmental Plan 2050’ that aims to achieve carbon neutrality across the entirety of company activities by 2050.

The YE-01 isn’t Yamaha’s first foray into EV machinery. Previously, they competed in the FIM Trial World Championship with the TY-E electric trials bike. On four wheels, Yamaha currently supplies the powertrain for the Lola Yamaha ABT Formula E team that races in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

While the YE-01 is a concept, Yamaha aims to have the bike ready to compete in the ‘MXEP’ electric motocross series. To prepare the bike for competition, Yamaha say they will leverage the electric control technologies, thermal energy management know-how, and other expertise gained through involvement in the aforementioned electric championships.

First announced in 2024, MXEP was expected to start in 2026 as a six-round championship, supporting the FIM Motocross World Championship (MXGP). However, some recent reporting suggests MXEP won’t start in 2026 and has been postponed indefinitely.

This follows MotoE, the electric support category for MotoGP, being shelved at the end of the 2025 season, with no return date confirmed, while the Isle of Man TT’s TT Zero class folded after 2019.