Today marked the official completion of the Triumph Motorcycles TE-1 electric development project, with the release of the final Phase 4 prototype test results that exceeded project objectives. In February, Futurride covered the reveal of the Phase 3 prototype.

The unique collaboration of Triumph Motorcycles, Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), Integral Powertrain, and WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group) at the University of Warwick, with funding by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) through Innovate UK, was set up to create ground-breaking developments in electric motorcycle engineering and innovative integrated technology design.

The testing program, which involved assessments of the bike’s performance on a rolling road dyno and on track, provided direction for the final set-up and calibration of the TE-1 prototype demonstrator. Daytona 200 champion racer Brandon Paasch participated in the final testing phase, both in engine performance evaluation and with the final set-up of the prototype through track testing.

“The throttle response on the TE-1 is kind of incredible; it’s very torquey and when you first touch the throttle it’s instant power, which is obviously what I love as a motorcycle race,” said Paasch. “I love when it’s super torquey and picks up right away, so for me, it was a really great experience. I got to peg this thing all the way from zero to 100% throttle and it’s unbelievably quick, it pulls like crazy.”

Regarding the key numbers, the partners say that the TE-1 significantly exceeds the real-world range of the equivalent electric motorcycles available today at 161 km (100 mi), based on live testing and official projections. Peak outputs of 130 kW and 109 N·m (80 lb·ft) deliver sprints of 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) in 3.6 s and 0-100 mph (0-160 km/h) in 6.2 s. That is combined with a “game-changing” 20-min time from 0% to 80% charge, said to be faster than today’s equivalent electric motorcycles. At 220 kg (485 lb), the bike is up to 25% lighter than comparable electric motorcycles, supporting a class-leading power-to-weight ratio.

“We are incredibly proud to be able to share such positive outcomes from the completion of Project Triumph TE 1, where the prototype demonstrator has exceeded many of our initial targets and expectations,” said Nick Bloor, CEO, of Triumph Motorcycles. “Everyone on the team is thrilled with the results we have achieved with our partners, and how the outcomes of the project will feed into the electric future to come from Triumph.”

Project Triumph TE-1 was a two-year collaboration between Triumph Motorcycles and the UK electrification experts, followed by a six-month Triumph-led development period of testing focused on developing technical innovation and advanced electric motorcycle capabilities. Triumph led the collaboration stages of the project, providing advanced motorcycle chassis design and engineering expertise, manufacturing excellence, and pioneering functional safety systems, as well as defining electric drivetrain power delivery control software and characterization. The company will continue with further calibration, handling, and tuning work of the demonstrator vehicle.

WAE provided lightweight battery design and integration capability and used its test and development facilities to deliver an innovative battery management system combined with the vehicle control unit. Advances in its battery and charging technologies developed with WAE resulted in the impressive charge time, successfully delivering against the ambitious targets laid out by Innovate UK, the government’s research and innovation agency that supports business-led R&D funding and UK business growth.

The energy capacity of the WAE-developed battery helps to enable the 161-km range. While regenerative braking was implemented on the TE-1, there is said to be greater scope for its further optimization as well as greater efficiencies in the motor-generator unit and transmission, which could improve the range further for future Triumph electric motorcycles.

“It is pleasing to hear positive rider comments which confirms that the dynamics of the bike are aligned with Triumph’s DNA,” said Dyrr Ardash, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Williams Advanced Engineering. “This has been underpinned by the class-leading battery and control system that WAE has produced within a lightweight and integrated package. This core WAE technology has allowed us to exceed performance and charging targets for the battery which we look forward to seeing in future powertrains.”

Integral Powertrain Ltd.’s e-Drive division led the development of a scalable power-dense Helix electric motor and a silicon carbide inverter, integrating both into a single, compact 15-kg (33-lb) assembly. It developed the SIMI (Scalable Integrated Modular Inverter) technology with Triumph for high power density, which contributed to making the TE-1 prototype as much as 25% lighter than comparable electric motorcycles for an impressive power-to-weight ratio. Earlier in July, Integral relaunched its electric powertrain engineering and manufacturing capability under the Helix brand.

“In its TE-1 application, the motor achieved peak and continuous power densities of 13 kW/kg and 9 kW/kg respectively—60% higher than Advanced Propulsion Centre technology roadmap targets for 2025,” said Andrew Cross, Helix Chief Technology Manager. “All this was achieved using materials and processes compatible with volume automotive production and using a motor scalability concept that provided a springboard to our Scalable Core Technology, providing similar performance levels at much greater manufacturing scale than previously possible.”

WMG at the University of Warwick provided electrification expertise and the vision to drive innovation from R&D to commercial impact through modeling and simulation based on future market needs.

“To meet our ambitious emission reduction targets in the UK, we will have to rethink the way we travel, not only transitioning from ICE to electric propulsion vehicles but also encouraging a modal shift away from private cars,” said Professor David Greenwood, CEO of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult at WMG, University of Warwick. “Electric two-wheelers have a pivotal role to play in the transport revolution as a zero-tailpipe emission option.”

With Phase 4 officially completed, the expertise and capabilities developed throughout the project now pave the way for the exciting electric future for Triumph. The final prototype hints at that exciting future, with a new electric-Triumph sound that builds to a crescendo. The bike has the ergonomics, geometry, and weight distribution of a Speed Triple, with the scale and visual impact of a Street Triple. Its throttle and torque delivery maps are equivalent to a Speed Triple 1200 RS.

“Being the first step in our journey towards developing our future approach to electric powertrain technology, the TE-1 prototype and the incredible results it has achieved in its intensive testing program has provided crucial insights and capabilities that will ultimately guide our future development,” said Steve Sargent, Chief Product Officer, Triumph Motorcycles. “Of course, the final production motorcycle will not be exactly what you see here today, but rest assured, the models we do develop will encompass all of its learnings and its exciting dynamic spirit.”