Yamaha MT-09 Hybrid Prototype Unveiled

Following in the footsteps of Kawasaki, who gave the world its first hybrid bike with the new Ninja 7 Hybrid, Yamaha has just revealed the MT-09 Hybrid prototype. It features the company's SPHEV (Series-Parallel Hybrid Electric Vehicle) system that aims at combining the traditional feel of an ICE powertrain with the environmental benefits of an EV.

Yamaha’s hybrid system places an electric motor on top of the engine. At low speeds, the MT-09 Hybrid Prototype operates as a pure electric vehicle. As speed increases, the combustion engine automatically activates to work alongside the motor, delivering both the immediate torque of electric power and sustained high-speed performance of traditional engines. The official performance figures are still under wraps and should be disclosed when the production-spec bike launches officially.

As far as its aesthetics is concerned, the Yamaha MT-09 Hybrid Prototype looks a lot like the standard MT-09, but bulkier. This partly boils down due to the inclusion of the electric motor above the engine. Plus the panels have also been altered slightly for cooling purposes to include a large heat sink on the fuel tank, and air-intake panels around it. The headlight design is new and looks quite radical and sharp, with a distinct “Cyberpunk” feel to it. Lastly, there’s a small round LCD mounted on the handlebar that shows the charge level and range left on the bike. 

This is not Yamaha’s first tryst with hybrid technology though. The brand had earlier showcased a hybrid scooter which was more on the lines of XMAX. As for the bike, Yamaha has not announced when the MT-09 Hybrid will enter production. But the refined prototype and released test footage suggest further announcements may come soon, perhaps at the Japanese Mobility Show (previously known as the Tokyo Motor Show) later this year.