Do androids dream of electric motorcycles?
No, it's not something by Philip K Dick as you might imagine – it's a trend which is emerging amongst manufacturers now – electric motorcycles.
Electric vehicles are on the way there's no doubt about that, but motorcycles will not necessarily be in the front runners for this kind of innovation as it is mainly targeted at cars, as they are the worst culprits for emissions. We have all seen this problem in action and you will be familiar with riding past a traffic jam with one person sitting stationary in one car, emitting enough exhaust for four people!
So Triumph are trying to stay ahead of the curve in electric innovation, and have formed a collaboration with the government's Department for Business Energy and Industrial strategy (BEIS) and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) via Innovate UK, to develop electric motorcycle technology with a future electric Triumph in their sights. The project is called Triumph TE-1.
Triumph TE-1
Triumph are leading the new two year project which is a collaboration between Triumph, Williams Advanced Engineering, Integral Powertrain Ltds e-Drive Division, WMG University of Warwick and Innovate UK. This is obviously a project which means business.
The idea is to combine Triumph's know how in the motorcycle industry with the technological innovation which the other partners can bring and give birth to new motorcycle technology ready for the electric future which lies inevitably ahead down the track.
- Triumph are leading the project with chassis and engineering design.
- Williams Advanced Engineering are working on the battery design and integration.
- Integral Powertrain Ltd are developing bespoke power-dense electric motors and a silicon carbide inverter for the project.
- WMG at the University of Warwick is providing electrification expertise and input on taking the project to market.
- Innovate UK is the government agency promoting science and technology which aims to create market-leading UK electric vehicle capability.
- Some of the aims of the project going forward are to create electric motorcycle capability for customers who want to go electric for environmental reasons and to build up UK expertise and jobs in the electric motorcycle industry.
The Project Triumph TE-1 partnership, is focused on the creation of:
- Electric motorcycle capability to suit customers looking for lower environmental impact transport, thus helping to reduce UK emissions.
- Good commercially viable and sustainable partnerships with UK industry.
- Growing expertise in the UK workforce leading to new jobs and a solid UK talent base in the electric vehicle industry.
Nick Bloor, CEO of Triumph says this about the TE-1 project:
“This new collaboration represents an exciting opportunity for Triumph and its partners to be leaders in the technology that will enable the electrification of motorcycles, which is driven by customers striving to reduce their environmental impact, combined with the desire for more economical transportation, and changing legislation. Project Triumph TE-1 is one part of our electric motorcycle strategy, focused on delivering what riders want and expect from their Triumph, which is the perfect balance of handling, performance and usability.”
Professor David Greenwood, Professor of Advanced Propulsion Systems at WMG University of Warwick adds:
“Electric motorcycles will have a vital role to play in future transport across the globe - delivering reduced congestion and improved urban air quality as well as easing parking. They will also be great to ride, with copious, easily controlled torque delivered smoothly at all road speeds.”
We'll give the last word to Triumph's Steve Sargent who says:
“Our future product strategy is focused on delivering the most suitable engine platforms for the changing landscape of customer needs, and we see a Triumph electric powertrain as a significant requirement alongside our signature twin and triple cylinder engines. As part of our electric motorcycle initiative, Project Triumph TE-1 represents an exciting collaboration that will provide valuable input into our future line-up. We are incredibly pleased to have the support of OLEV and Innovate UK, and to be working together with the UK’s electrification experts and academic leaders, in an endeavour that ultimately is focused on the future prosperity of British industry, and the future of motorcycling.”
Electric Dreams – Had Any Yet?
So what do you think – can you see yourself, far in the future, astride an electric Triumph – hard to imagine right now but who knows? We'd love to know what you think? Email
[email protected].
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