Triumph Motorcycles announced that it has entered into a partnership with a group of British organizations (Williams Advanced Engineering, Integral Powertrain Ltd.).the e-Drive Division and WMG at the University of Warwick) to develop a prototype of an electric motorcycle. The ad included a machine that looked a lot like Hinckley’s own Street/Speed Triple offerings, which means a sporty naked bike that should work well for wayward city riding.
We know from Triumph’s previous announcement that the British motorcycle brand has built the motorcycle’s double-handled aluminum frame and that Williams has integrated a vehicle control unit integrated into the battery pack.
The motor and the inverter have also been transformed into an integral unit thanks to the work of Integral Powertrain Ltd., which helps to reduce the size of the powertrain and eliminate additional boxes, fastening features, coolant lines and heavy high-voltage connections.
When we see the bike in its finished Prototype form, we see that the team has opted for a final belt drive, which is certainly an interesting choice, especially considering the 180 horsepower initially mentioned (peak) on the tap. Traditionally, in a sports bike application, one would expect a chain axle drive, especially at high torques – a lesson that several electric motorcycle startups have learned the hard way.
Under the fuel tank there is a hidden powered port, although Triumph and others know which powered technologies the TE-1 is compatible with in its design. Other details, such as the size of the battery and the total weight of the vehicle, are also absent from the team’s presentation, which makes the work difficult to evaluate here.
Triumph says it will now begin “Phase 4” development of the prototype, which includes a calibration of its systems and extensive on-road and on-road testing.
Phase 4 is scheduled for the summer of this year, although it is not clear when we will see a production version of the Triumph TE-1 at dealerships – if any.
Nevertheless, the Design seems fascinating, and now the British brand has taken a step closer to realizing an electric future – although they are not the only ones doing it.