An all-new battery powertrain developed by Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) for Triumph Motorcycles’ TE-1 project will set new standards for electric bike performance. It has class-leading power, efficiency, charging time and range. The TE-1’s lightweight, groundbreaking battery system, will allow riders to use more electric power for longer providing access to outstanding performance regardless of battery charge, alongside rapid charging times.
Styling sketches for the final TE-1 prototype have been unveiled alongside first images of the innovative advanced electric powertrain. More detail will be revealed on this pioneering project which has now reached the successful completion of phase two of its four-phase programme.
The project started 2019 with TE-1 being focused on developing specialist electric motorcycle technology and innovative integrated solutions. This is thanks to a unique collaboration between four leading British organisations including Triumph Motorcycles, Williams Advanced Engineering, Integral Powertrain Limited and WMG at the University of Warwick. Funding has been provided by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles via Innovate UK.
Paul McNamara, technical director at WAE, said: “WAE has a long history in powering a number of world-renowned electric vehicles, both on track and on the road. Alongside our partners, we are delighted to be playing a key role in this innovative project, setting new standards in electric performance on two wheels.”
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.”
WAE has provided industry-leading lightweight battery design and integration capability. They used their test and development facilities to deliver an innovative battery management system combined with the vehicle control unit.
At the start of the project, WAE identified appropriate cell technology and battery architecture to deliver the performance objectives set by the partners, namely the best balance between power and energy.
The battery has been developed to bring two class-leading benefits. The first is that the battery can deliver sustained power, matched to the consistent maximum power that the motor can give, and the second is that the battery can also charge at a faster rate.
The all-new battery has a peak power of 170kW and continuous power of 90kW, with a capacity of 15kWh. This enables the motorbike to deliver 130kW of peak power and 80kW of continuous power.
Class-leading system cooling combined with the optimum balance of power and energy means TE-1 can give the rider more electric power for longer and deliver outstanding performance regardless of battery charge. The 360-volt system also enables fast-charging up to 80 percent in under 20 minutes.
Dyrr Ardash, senior commercial manager at WAE, said: “Through this innovative project, we are delivering next-generation battery technology. The energy density of this new battery will be a significant step forward. Existing technology limits performance at low levels of charge.
“Our lightweight, compact solution gives the rider all of the performance all of the time. It also delivers class-leading range. Additionally, we have pushed the limits of performance by balancing the battery for acceleration and range. A first for this market, this benefits packaging and integration whilst optimising performance and range.”
High-performance battery technology is important for the future of both electric motorcycles and cars, whether it’s at the performance end on the track or helping to improve the range and lower the cost of everyday electric cars on the road. Lighter weight and longer range batteries are the future of electric cars.
