NAWA Technologies, based in Aix-en-Provence, France, has announced that its concept e-motorbike, the NAWA Racer, will debut as a dynamic prototype in a few months thanks to a partnership with AKKA Technologies, FAAR SAS, Pronergy, and YSY Group. Revealed at CES 2020, the Racer was initially designed as a demonstration project illustrating how the company’s NAWACap next-gen ultracapacitors and NAWAStitch reinforced composites could be applied to a real-world EV (electric vehicle) powertrain.
The Racer project was supported by design and engineering services provider Envisage Group, which translated drawings by Dr. Pascal Boulanger, Co-founder, CTO, COO, & Chairman of the Board, NAWA Technologies, into beautiful renderings and created a physical demonstrator for the CES show stand.
NAWA Technologies’ range of products is based on a patented technology called vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNT). The company has applied VACNT technology to create high-power, high-energy ultracapacitors; one of the fastest electrodes for lithium batteries; and reinforced carbon-fiber composites. The leadership team helping Boulanger in this effort includes Ulrik Grape, CEO; Ludovic Eveillard, Co-founder & VP of Sales & Marketing; Henri Lefebvre, CFO; Stéphane Coletti, Industrial Director; Harald Hauf, Product Manager; and Véronique Gay, Secrétaire Générale.
The company claims that its NAWACap range of ultracapacitors can offer up to five times more energy than existing ultracapacitors and ten times more power, depending on the application. Setting new standards for charging speed, frequency, and environmental friendliness, its Ultra-Fast Carbon Battery is said to bridge the gap between existing ultracapacitors and more traditional lithium-ion batteries.
The Racer brings a modern twist to its retro café racer styling. Its top tank area hides an array of NAWA’s ultracapacitors, which boost a lithium-ion battery mounted low in the chassis with an innovative hybrid management system, energy control unit, and in-wheel electrical motor. The Racer’s next-generation NAWACap ultracapacitors are integrated into a light, compact, and connected pack that can be used in many other applications.
Reusing more than 80% of the energy captured from regenerative braking, the Racer can use a much smaller lithium-ion battery than would otherwise be possible; it’s around half the size of a conventional electric sports bike’s battery. The NAWACap pack is lightweight, and combined with the e-motorbike’s aluminum structural body, is said to offer a 25% weight saving over conventional electric sports bikes.
Although simplified for its first version, the lightweight, compact hybrid battery system results in a relatively long estimated range. The Racer is projected to cover 150 km (93 mi) on a mixed cycle including highways. However, by capturing much of the energy from stop/start riding and releasing it as acceleration, the e-motorcycle can double its urban range to 300 km (186 mi).
The hybrid storage pack powers a highly efficient in-wheel electrical motor developing up to 40 kW. No matter the charge level of the lithium-ion battery, the Racer is said to always have full acceleration on demand because of the ultracapacitor’s high power characteristics. Projected 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration is under 3 s.
Following a successful global reception for the concept, the decision was made to develop a fully functioning, rideable prototype, with NAWA “consortium” is working to bring the Racer to life.
“We had such a fantastic response to our NAWA Racer concept at CES 2020 that we had to take the next step and showcase what our NAWACap technology truly can do,” said Boulanger. “To develop a fully dynamic prototype, and best reflect our next-gen energy-storage technology, a world-leading consortium has been brought together to design and build a fully functioning version.”
The prototype will feature a “world-first in electric powertrains,” a “hybrid battery” that combines NAWACap ultracapacitors with conventional lithium-ion cells. These are merged in an innovative electrical architecture, enabling the best of both energy sources for electric vehicle powertrains. The company says that the ultracapacitors play an equivalent role to a turbocharger in an internal combustion engine.
The hybrid ultracapacitor battery system is said to greatly improve energy efficiency, reduce charging times, and extend system life. Applicable to any electric vehicle, the efficiency improvements can reduce the size of the lithium-ion battery by up to half or extend the range by up to double, or a combination in between, depending on the final design.
To develop the Racer prototype, the partnership was assembled with companies having skillsets across automotive engineering, R&D, battery management, electronics, powertrain, systems integration, and prototype realization. Development is taking place within the framework of the HYDEALIST project for hybrid storage and fast charging for AGV in logistics funded by InnoEnergy, the European innovation platform for clean technologies.
The development of the Racer’s e-powertrain including the in-wheel motor and the aluminum body (that structurally integrates the battery within the chassis, negating the need for a conventional frame) is being led by AKKA Technologies. The engineering consultancy’s mission is to optimize all the mechanical components and conceive an e-motorbike with very few moving parts to be light and easy to fabricate. Its team of experts will develop the Racer’s ride and handling characteristics, with a particular focus on the e-motorbike’s advanced suspension system and rear-arm design.
The Racer’s electric power distribution system is being developed by Pronergy, a subsidiary of FAAR SAS located in Paris. The system distributes power according to vehicle mode and rider demand. For the dynamic prototype, a new switching unit is being developed to allow both the ultracapacitor and lithium battery to provide energy while maximizing the benefits of both technologies in terms of performance and efficiency. FAAR heads up the development of the Racer’s BMS (battery management system) software and control ECU electronic architecture.
The dynamic prototype will be revealed and demonstrated on track just before summer 2021, depending on Covid-19 restrictions. YSY Group, based in Lille, France, will help NAWA in testing the e-motorcycle.
While NAWA Technologies has no plans to make or sell a production version of the Racer, it is open to approaches from partners interested in taking this revolutionary e-motorbike to the streets.
