Yamaha's hybrid beauty

Is this cool, or is this cool? Yamaha will launch this beauty next year (2010). Not only does it look like something out of Tron, it's hybrid!

Even if you're not a biker, the aesthetics of this are stunning. But under the hood (as it were) the (250cc or thereabouts) single-cylinder engine powers a generator to drive the rear wheel. No clutch, no gearbox, and a complex planetary gear arrangement to transmit the power from the engine and the electric motor to the wheels, as well as from the engine to the generator.

As with the Toyota Prius, batteries are used to store surplus power, and the electric motor used primarily for starting off, etc. with the IC engine kicking in when required.

Furthermore, the basic technology is very flexible, allowing mounting in a variety of different machines as Yamaha expands the concept to encompass different models.

For a more detailed explanation of the drive mechanism, with diagrams, visit the Gizmag site.