Triumph Motorcycles could well be the newest player among premium motorcycle brands to get on to the electric motorcycle game, after Harley-Davidson's LiveWire electric motorcycle project. The British motorcycle brand has announced a new project called the TE-1 which is a collaboration between Triumph, Williams Advanced Engineering, Integral Powertrain Ltd's e-Drive Division, and WMG at the University of Warwick. Additionally, the group will receive funding from the UK Government's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). The actual model development is still some time away, but it is an important announcement nevertheless, and will bring in exciting times in the electric motorcycle space in future.
"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. Project Triumph TE-1 is one part of our electric motorcycle strategy, focused on delivering what riders want and expect from their Triumph, which is the perfect balance of handling, performance and usability," said Nick Bloor, Triumph CEO.
Development of actual new electric motorcycles is still a few years away
Triumph Motorcycles will lead the TE-1 project, providing the expertise in chassis development and overall motorcycle engineering. Williams Advanced Engineering will provide lightweight battery design and integration capability for the project, while Integral Powertrain's e-Drive Division will lead the development of the in-house electric motor with a silicon carbide inverter. WMG at the University of Warwick will help provide commercialisation as well as modelling and simulations that will be based on future market needs.
"Our future product strategy is focused on delivering the most suitable engine platforms for the changing landscape of customer needs, and we see a Triumph electric powertrain as a significant requirement alongside our signature twin and triple cylinder engines," said Steve Sargent, Triumph's Chief Product Officer.
Future models may include modern classics with an electric powertrain
The TE-1 project will eventually lead to new model development, but that is still a few years away. The first phase will focus on delivering powertrain solutions in two years' time before any specific model development takes place. What is clear is that electric motorcycles certainly seem to be taking off in earnest, and it probably won't be too long before you get to see an electric Triumph in production form.
