When the funky Yamaha PES1 electric concept motorcycle debuted at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, we initially thought it was a mere prototype, intended to showcase the company’s future electrical aspirations. But a short video clip that came out later proved otherwise; the PES1 was indeed a fully functional model, and now Yamaha says it will indeed start producing the bikes (the PES1 and its dirt-bike sibling, the PED1) by 2016!

Tipping the scales at just 100kg, the PES1 electric motorcycle is powered by a Yamaha Smart Power Module, a removable lithium-ion battery pack and brushless DC motor, all of which is housed in a monocoque frame. Yamaha hasn’t revealed any performance numbers yet; all we know is that the concept featured a transmission with both manual and automatic modes. We just hope Yamaha will be able to replicate its internal combustion wizardry here as well!