Yamaha has just launched a new hybrid motorcycle, but for now, it’s not coming to Canada. The new Yamaha FZS-Fi Hybrid was revealed in India this week, and as far as we know, it’s not coming across the Pacific any time soon.
This is a basic machine, built for practical purposes. It is based on the FZ-S Fi gasoline-powered model, with a 149cc engine designed around Yamaha’s fuel-efficient Blue Core technology. That part is nothing special; it’s a budget friendly bike for developing markets.
The interesting part is the Smart Motor Generator (SMG). This uses battery power to boost the gasoline engine’s performance, acting like a turbo boost or a supercharger, adding extra muscle for acceleration. In other words, it is not a full hybrid like the design we also saw Yamaha release recently. It appears the electrical-power component of the FZ-S Fi Hybrid powertrain is not intended to drive the motorcycle on its own.
So why release it? Two reasons, probably. Like other gas-electric hybrids that still burn a pile of petrol, the FZ-S Fi Hybrid still checks a box in the green energy department, and that’s desirable for large companies trying to fit their vehicles into the brave new world of eco-friendly transportation. And also because figuring out the design problems behind this gas/electric interface will help them design new, more powerful hybrids down the road.
In India, the Yamaha FZ-S Fi Hybrid sells for the equivalent of about $2,400 CAD, while the internal combustion version costs only about $250 CAD less. It’s a cheap add-on, and the bike itself is very affordable compared to the price of hybrids currently sold in Canada.
