Yamaha EC 06 First Ride Review: Is this your next EV?

Yamaha launched EC 06 last year in November at a price of Rs. 1.69 Lakh (ex-showroom). EC 06 is the first entry from Yamaha in the electric space for India. Yamahas EC 06 is inspired from a product of its partnered EV brand; River Indie. The heart and soul of both the scooter are somehow similar yet Yamahas EC makes a difference, but how? I rode EC 06 in Pune and here's my first impression of the electric scooter. Meanwhile, make sure to join the 91Wheels WhatsApp Channel to never miss out on automotive updates.

Also Read - Yamaha EC-06: Key Features Explained

Yamaha EC 06 Design

The new Yamaha EC 06 has a simple yet head turning design with smooth curves in front and  shape edges in sides. Design is somehow inspired from Rivers Indie yet the difference can be found by looking at the front rectangular headlamp which is placed vertically unlike Indie that has its headlamps placed horizontally. The handle bar is mostly similar in the twin brother.

The sides of the scooter has a light blue plate with EC 06 written on it. The rear has a sleek taillamp with a chunky blacked out grab rail. Yamaha EC 06 has all LED lights in the rear including indicators. The scooter stands out for its excellent fit and finish, with high-quality materials used throughout. The paintwork and body panels appear well-executed, with no noticeable gaps or imperfections. Additionally, the blacked-out alloy wheels add to its overall visual appeal.

Features & Hardware 

In terms of features, the scooter comes equipped with a digital LCD display that shows essential information such as speed, riding mode, odometer readings, and battery percentage. However, the estimated remaining range shown on the display can not be judged due the time spent with the scooter was less.

Designed primarily for everyday city use, the EC 06 keeps its hardware setup straightforward. It has telescopic front forks along with dual shock absorbers in the rear. The scooter rides on a 14-inch front wheel and rear wheel, while braking duties are managed by disk brakes at both ends.

Ride, Performance and Handling

The EC 06 offers a well-balanced ride quality that feels immediately approachable. The seat is wide and comfortable and the floorboard provides ample space, even for taller riders. Handling is predictable. However, on bumpy roads or rough patches the front suspension may give a slight jerk but rear ones do a commendable job of soaking up potholes and speed breakers, ensuring a comfortable urban riding experience. Both disk brakes deliver adequate bite and stopping power for everyday use, especially in sports mode.

Powering the EC 06 is a 4 kWh fixed battery pack, which delivers a claimed range of 169 km on a single charge (IDC). It is paired with a motor producing 6.7 kW (8.9 hp) of power and a peak torque of 26 Nm, while the top speed is rated at 79 kmph.

When it comes to performance, the scooter offers three riding modes: Eco, Standard and Power. In Eco mode, the speed is restricted to 50-55 kmph, which feels too good for most real-world conditions and is practical for short, low-traffic rides. Riding in this mode on busy roads can feel slow and unsafe due to the lack of pace.

Switching to Standard mode unlocks a top speed of around 65 kmph, which is more usable for city commutes. This mode gives you room for quick overtakes or sudden maneuvers. However, power mode is the one that provides you performance flexibility makes it best suitable for faster urban roads, where maintaining higher speeds is often necessary. Overall, the EC 06 feels best suited for daily rides up to 100 Km because it takes 8 hours to get charged up to 80% and 10 hours for 100%.

On the practicality front, the EC 06 offers 24.5 litres of under-seat storage and a convenient luggage hook, making it fairly usable for daily needs.

Also Read - Yamaha EC-06 Vs River Indie: Here are the Key Differences