It looks like a regular moped but the e-Let’s from Suzuki is actually a prototype motor-assisted bicycle with no engine. However, of course, there is no pedaling, unlike the recent spate of electric bike models offered by Yamaha and Bridgestone Cycles.

The e-Let’s has a Sanyo lithium-ion rechargeable battery and weighs around 70kg. The battery and charger are detachable, and are stored beneath the seat. These can then be connected to a 100V power outlet to charge up, which takes up to 4 hours.

Currently the e-Let’s can achieve maximum speeds of up to 30km/h on flat surfaces, around twice regular electric bicycles, and can go up to 30km on one battery’s charge. However, by carrying an auxiliary battery this can be extended.

Though it weighs much more than Yamaha’s recent high-profile PAS Brace model, it can travel twice as fast and be used for longer. The e-Let’s, however, is at writing only a prototype and Suzuki has revealed no dates for commercialization.

The current market for electric bicycles is dominated by senior citizen or housewife consumers in Japan. However, this kind of model fits an EV gap — both easy to use for the casual driver but also genuinely environmentally friendly. It has more power and distance than the bicycles, making it more likely to attract ordinary users too.