Among our impressions, the biggest impression of "Bombardier" in the motorcycle field is the large-displacement inverted three-wheeled motorcycle! Bombardier is also the only company in the world that produces both locomotives and airplanes! The world's third largest civil aircraft manufacturer! Can you imagine such a behemoth about to start entering the two-wheeled electric vehicle industry?
The Canadian company's new patents indicate that a modular electric motorcycle platform is being developed to be used in a variety of vehicle models. Bombardier's electric motorcycle technology comes from acquisitions! In 2018, Bombardier acquired Alta Motors for electric motorcycle technology.
Bombardier had also shown off electric concept cars before that, including an electric version of the Can-Am Ryker as well as the Can-Am CT1 scooter and CT2 motorcycle, and even a reclining tricycle, however, the new patent showcases a completely different set of electric two-wheelers.
The key to Bombardier's future electric vehicles lies in the sharing platform, which is also what Harley LiveWire has done. The modular platform includes a central frame for fixing the battery pack, which can be tilted to accommodate a variety of different vehicle models. The tubular frame houses the battery pack and control electronics, rather than the replaceable steering head section, the idea is that the angle of the entire frame/battery section can be rotated to suit the geometric requirements of each model, and for sporty motorcycles, the front part is lowered and the rear part is raised, resulting in a steeper forward tilt. The cruise version reverses the tilt of the frame, lowers the rear and raises the front for a more relaxed angle.
At the rear, Bombardier's idea was to mount the electric motor on the front of the swingarm, rather than as part of a central shared frame. This means that a variety of different rocker arm units, including a range of different motors and geometries, can be manufactured and bolted to a standardized frame/battery section. The design of the rocker arms is interesting, they are single-sided, and the electric motor is installed near the pivot point to drive large reduction gears. The gear secures the front sprocket and the chain final drive is connected to the rear sprocket via a built-in tensioner. The entire car is closed with a bolt-on lid that closes the chain to reduce noise. As with this off-road vehicle example, different one-sided rocker arms can be bolted to the central frame of different motorcycle types.
While there are clear cost benefits to using a shared central frame section on a range of motorcycles, it's also a solution with a manufacturing advantage. The idea is that the same production line can be used for all versions of motorcycles, from cruise to sports cars, where workers only need to select the right subassemblies for the fork and swingarm/motor unit, as well as the right parts such as the body. This means that motorcycles can actually be produced on order, or at least factories will be able to respond quickly to spikes in demand for specific models without leaving behind a large number of unsold, less popular machines.
While these ideas can be easily represented with simple drawings from Bombardier's patents, some images can clearly show detailed information about vintage and off-road versions. It's not just an exercise in building intellectual property to the idea, but part of the process of real machine development that is ready for production.