Plans to create a mass-produced electric Triumph motorcycle have taken a big step forward with the unveiling of the first prototype motor and powertrain and the designs for the actual bike.
The Hinckley manufacturer has been working with some of the leading players in the sector to create an electric bike which will outstrip the best products already on the market.
Triumph wants to create an electric bike which meets the needs to cut carbon emissions without compromising on the riding experience.
It is halfway through the two year Project TE-1 initiative, and has announced that initial testing of the prototype powertrain has showed excellent potential.
The next stage will be building a running model based on a sports roadster, with a stripped back, aggressive look inspired by Triumph鈥檚 Speed and Street Triple bikes. It will be revealed later this year.
Triumph chief product officer Steve Sargent said the bike builder had been leading the project, bringing together technology from four partners to 鈥渄eliver an electric motorcycle that feels and performs like a Triumph without any compromise鈥.
He said: 鈥淚n essence, the project is all about creating a platform for Triumph鈥檚 future electric motorcycles, hand-in-hand with the creation of the powertrain, battery and the infrastructure that makes this possible.
鈥淭his is a ground-breaking collaboration between our four major 海角视频 industry and academic leaders to generate technological innovation for future electric motorcycles.鈥
Williams Advanced Engineering has been working on a new lightweight battery and control unit as part of the partnership, while Integral Powertrain Ltd鈥檚 e-Drive division has developed a 180 horsepower motor which weighs just 10kg.
The other partner is the Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick which is providing its expertise in modelling and simulation to 鈥渄rive innovation from R&D to commercial reality鈥.
The project has had funding and support from Innovate 海角视频 and the Government鈥檚 Office for Zero Emission Vehicles.
Triumph chief executive Nick Bloor said completing of the second phase of the project and the promising results so far, provided an 鈥渆xciting glimpse鈥 of the potential electric future.
He said: 鈥淲ithout doubt the outcome of this project will play a significant part in our future efforts to meet our customer鈥檚 ambition and desire to reduce their environmental impact and for more sustainable transportation.
鈥淭his important project will provide one of the foundations for our future electric motorcycle strategy, which is ultimately focussed on delivering what riders want from their Triumph; the perfect balance of performance, handling and real world usability, with genuine Triumph character.鈥
Mr Sargent said the starting point for the project had been to hear what riders 鈥 who love the sound and feel of a traditional petrol engine 鈥 would want from a green bike.
He said: 鈥淭his includes considering the type of riding, range, feel and nature of power and torque delivery together with the ergonomics and bike controls.
鈥淭aking all of this feedback into consideration we began the chassis design, focusing on bringing everything together on the TE-1 prototype in a way that provides a riding experience that is exciting and new but ultimately familiar.
鈥淲e have begun to define the powertrain and battery interaction through the use of software refinement to deliver an exhilarating power delivery and throttle response, which provides great control and feels intuitive to the rider.
鈥淥verall with the styling we wanted to create something that is fresh and exciting but a natural evolution of the Triumph brand.
鈥淪omething desirable in its own right, with distinctive Triumph DNA and definitely not something that is different just for the sake of being different.鈥
Andrew Cross, chief technical officer at Integral Powertrain, in Milton Keynes said the 鈥渋ncredibly small but incredibly powerful鈥 motor they had built was based on 鈥渋ndustry leading technology that will absolutely define the future of electric motorcycles, starting with the TE-1 project鈥.
He said: 鈥淲e are proud to be part of this landmark moment for British industry.鈥
