Yamaha Motor Europe will bolster TOYOTA Racing’s already strong eco presence in the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship through the provision of 16 EC-03 electric scooters for paddock use. The partnership sees Yamaha become an ‘Official Supplier of TOYOTA Racing’.
TOYOTA was the first manufacturer to confirm participation in 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship events using a hybrid system. The entry emphasizes their pioneering approach to a technology that has seen more than 3.5 million of their hybrid vehicles sold worldwide.
The TOYOTA HYBRID System – Racing powertrain features an all-new V8 3.4 litre normally-aspirated petrol engine and hybrid system. As with TOYOTA’s full hybrid road cars, energy is generated under braking. The TS030 HYBRID racing car can also operate in electric-only mode, achieving zero emissions and zero fuel consumption.
In 2002, Yamaha Motor became the first manufacturer to market a production-model electric commuter, the Passol, as a minimal commuter vehicle designed to play a role in next-generation urban transportation. This was followed in 2005 by the Passol-L and the EC-02. The new generation EC-03, launched in Europe in 2011, has been developed as a “personal commuter” vehicle that is expected to find many diverse uses in the future: from short-range urban commuting to rental vehicles in tourist areas. For Yamaha Motor, this model is a realization of the company efforts to develop new forms of “Smart Power”.
Today’s partnership means TOYOTA Racing’s on track participation with the TS030 HYBRID racing car is perfectly reflected by Yamaha’s eco friendly EC-03 electric scooters within the paddock. Yamaha’s scooters will join TOYOTA Racing as they participate in the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship, the first race being the legendary 24hrs race in Le Mans, France on the 16th-17th June 2012.
“We are delighted to work together with TOYOTA Racing to support their efforts in the World Endurance Championship,” commented Andrew Smith, Vice-President Sales & Marketing Operations, Yamaha Motor Europe. “There is a strong synergy between Toyota and Yamaha. We have a strong collaborative working relationship in the automobile field that goes back many decades.
We are two Japanese manufacturers who share a similar corporate vision and in particular a commitment and belief in working towards developing efficient eco transport solutions.”
With a low environmental impact, the EC-03 provides a fun, convenient way to get around town and around the paddock completely emissions-free. With virtually no running costs the ultra efficient scooter can be conveniently charged from a normal plug socket for just a few euro cents.
Source; Yamaha
