You may have heard that Triumph Motorcycles is working on an electric motorcycle. The project, dubbed TE-1, has started since 2019, but what makes this electric two-wheeler noteworthy is, it will not be just another motorcycle stuffed with an electric drivetrain.
Project TE-1 Electric Bike is powered by an all-new, next-generation lightweight battery and e-powertrain system developed by Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), a technology and engineering business born out of Williams F1 in 2010.
With the TE-1, it promised to “set new standards for electric bike performance, with class-leading power, efficiency, charging time and range.” According to Nick Bloor, CEO of Triumph, the all-new battery 15 kWh peaks out at 170 kW and boasts 90 kW of continuous power.
This allows the TE-1 to develop 130 kW peak power and 80 kW continuous power. The battery system, along with “class leading system cooling combined with the optimum balance of power and energy” will realize more electric power for longer and deliver outstanding performance regardless of battery charge.
In other words, the battery is capable of delivering sustained power and consistent maximum power.
In essence, the battery system and powertrain on TE-1 project is kind of like a Dyson cordless stick vacuum – power and performance won’t degrade because of low charge. Hopefully, though, it won’t shut down abruptly like the Dyson vacuum when the battery goes flat.
In addition, the 360-volt system also touts fast-charging which can juice the battery from 0-80% in under 20 minutes.
With respect to the design, the TE-1 is nothing futuristic. If anything, it cannot be more traditional (but no less beautiful).
Project TE-1, which is no in Phase 2, is a collaboration between four major UK industry and academic leaders, namely, Triumph, Williams Advanced Engineering, Integral Powertrain Ltd’s e-Drive Division, and WMG at the University of Warwick. The project is funded by the UK Government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).
