Triumph reveals electric motorbike design

Triumph Motorcycles is working with United Kingdom industry experts, academic leaders and Innovate UK, to develop specialist electric motorcycle technology and integrated solutions.

The two-year project in partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering, Integral Powertrain Ltd, and WMG, at the University of Warwick, is providing significant input into potential future electric motorcycles from Triumph, called Project Triumph TE-1.

The second phase of the four-stage project has revealed new design drawings – the project following Harley-Davidson’s release of its electric LiveWire motorcycle.

“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,” Triumph chief executive Nick Bloor says.

“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.”

Triumph Motorcycles is providing advanced motorcycle chassis design and engineering expertise, manufacturing excellence and pioneering functional safety systems, the integration of braking systems including regenerative braking, as well as defining electric drivetrain power delivery characteristics.

Williams Advanced Engineering is doing industry-leading lightweight battery design and integration capability, using its test and development facilities to deliver an innovative battery management system combined with vehicle control unit.

Integral Powertrain’s e-Drive Division is leading the development of bespoke power-dense electric motors and a silicon carbide inverter, integrating both into a singular motor housing.

WMG, at the University of Warwick, is providing electrification expertise and the critical vision to drive innovation from research and development to commercial impact, through modelling and simulation based on future market needs.

Innovate UK, the government agency that promotes science and technology to grow the UK economy, is supporting the partners and administering funds. This forms part of the BEIS modern funding strategy with the aim of creating a market-leading UK EV capability.

“Williams has powered a number of world-renowned electric vehicles already and this is a significant further step in our work by taking that knowledge onto two wheels,” Williams Advanced Engineering managing director Craig Wilson says.

WMG Advanced Propulsion Systems professor David Greenwood says 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.