F1 Tech behind Triumph’s first BEV Motorcycle
Triumph Motorcycles has turned to F1 expertise from Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) to develop its first all-electric motorcycle.
The TE-1 project hopes to set new standards for electric bike performance, with class-leading power, efficiency, charging time and range. The company has released the first official renderings of the powertrain and motorcycle concept as the project reached the completion of the second phase of its four-phase program.
This project began in May 2019 and saw the two automotive companies team up with specialists at the WMG at the University of Warwick while funding has been provided by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles via Innovate UK. Williams has provided lightweight battery design and integration capability, using its test and development facilities to deliver a battery management system combined with vehicle control unit.
The outcome of phase two includes a fully bench-tested battery with performance results that claim to exceed any current technology in terms of power and energy density. The battery has peak power of 170kW and continuous power of 90kW, with a capacity of 15kWh. This enables the motorbike to deliver 170bhp of peak power and 103bhp of continuous power. Its 360-volt system also claims a fast-charging time of under 20 minutes from empty to 80% charged.
Williams has modified the battery module layout to balance mass and positioning within the prototype chassis taking into consideration center of gravity, space and relationship with the powertrain and charging approach. A new and bespoke vehicle control unit has been integrated into the battery pack to reduce weight and packaging. Nick Bloor, Triumph CEO, said: “The completion of Phase 2 and the promising results achieved to date, provide an exciting glimpse of the potential electric future and showcase the talent and innovation of this unique British collaboration. This important project will provide one of the foundations for our future electric motorcycle strategy, which is ultimately focused on delivering what riders want from their Triumph; the perfect balance of performance, handling and real world usability, with genuine Triumph character.”
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in London. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
