Triumph Motorcycles is a British motorcycle manufacturing company. It produced many popular locomotive models such as tiger, Bonneville, Daytona, Speed Tripple and Street Tripple, among others. In 2018, Triumph Locomotives sold more than 60,000 units worldwide.
The collaboration between Triumph Motorcycles, Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), Integral Powertrain and WMG aims to create breakthrough developments in professional electric motorcycle engineering and innovative integrated technology design.
The launch of this prototype marks the official end of the te-1 project collaboration phase, and the completed prototype is now fully ready to begin the next Triumph-led phase of the project – the Field Test Program – integrating for the first time all the latest and final innovations from the project partner's workflow.
The WAE battery pack contains a dedicated battery package for optimizing the center of gravity, a vehicle control unit, a DCDC converter, integrated cooling, a charging port, and a shaped carbon cap. This new powertrain, developed by WAE, will set a new standard for the performance of electric bikes with best-in-class power, efficiency, charging time and range.
WAE is solely responsible for TE-1's lightweight, breakthrough battery system, developed using a holistic approach that will allow riders to use more power longer, delivering superior performance regardless of battery charging, as well as fast charging times.
The new battery has a peak power of 170kW, a continuous power of 90kW and a capacity of 15kWh. This enables the motorcycle to deliver 130kW of peak power and 80kW of sustained power. Best-in-class system cooling combined with an optimal balance of power and energy means TE-1 can deliver more power to riders for longer and deliver outstanding performance when the battery is charged. The 360-volt system also achieves fast charging times of less than 20 minutes (0-80%).
WAE optimized the battery module layout to balance quality and positioning within the prototype chassis, taking into account the center of gravity, space, and relationship to the powertrain and charging method. A new and customized vehicle control unit has been integrated into the battery pack to minimize weight and packaging.
Key project outcomes from this phase include test data exceeding the current benchmarks and targets set by the UK Council for 2025, providing a platform with great potential for the future development of electric motorcycle performance.
The overall objective of the TE-1 project has been to focus on developing electric motorcycle capabilities in order to provide investment in Triumph's future electric motorcycle products, drive innovation, capabilities and new intellectual property, and enhance the credibility and image and design of UK industry.
With the prototype complete, the full field testing phase of the TE-1 project will now begin. Over the next six months, the prototype will undergo an extensive field testing program at Triumph's state-of-the-art facility, including rolling road and track testing, designed to guide the final setup and calibration of the prototype demonstrator.
After completing the field test phase in summer 2022, the prototype demonstrator is expected to update its final body panel in preparation for an active track demonstration. At this point, final specifications and test results are released, along with insights and key facts about how TE-1 can achieve project goals, including final battery and range.
"It's really exciting to see the progress made in Phase 3 of Project Triumph TE-1, where the final prototype motorcycle is now in reality testing. Everyone involved in Triumph is proud to be part of this innovative collaboration. Personally, I'm excited about the results we've achieved with our partners and an exciting preview of the future of potential electric power. Triumph CEO Nick Brewer said. We look forward to continuing our ambitious and innovative work on the TE-1 demo prototype during the field test phase and sharing the results with Triumph fans around the world." ”
After completing Phase 2 of the program in March 2021, which delivered full bench-tested batteries, WAE has now completed Phase 3 work, which includes some of the key gateways for the project. In addition to supporting multiple hardware and software solutions; triumph-specifically integrated motorcycle control software that works in tandem with WAE's controller and battery management system enhances the integration of electromechanical solutions; and optimizes battery layout to balance quality and positioning within the chassis.
The demo car is now undergoing final battery level verification and calibration to ensure performance results meet best-in-class power and energy density targets and that riders are not affected at low levels.
"After a long period of testing, we are delighted to finally see the results of our work on the physical vehicle. By working with the Triumph team, we continue to push the boundaries of battery technology with the rider experience in mind. Said Dyrr Ardash, head of strategic partnerships at Williams Advanced Engineering. Because we designed the battery from scratch, the design was not compromised and we were able to maximize the potential of cutting-edge technology, delivering performance and all the performance that mattered."
WMG has also been helping Triumph understand the opportunities and broader implications of electrification for its business. This includes investigating opportunities for electric two-wheeler charging networks, domestic demand for electric motorcycle recycling, the need to develop a local battery supply chain, and the direction Triumph needs to take to ensure they can design, develop, manufacture and sell. The results of these studies also provide direction for national and local governments, particularly in areas where policy interventions can support the adoption of electric motorcycles.