Triumph Motorcycles has taken the wraps off the TE-1 Prototype electric motorcycle. The main objective of the TE-1 Project was to develop electric motorcycle capability for Triumph, and its Phase 3 has been completed with the final build of the demonstrator prototype. Triumph has built the prototype in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering, Integral Powertrain Limited and WMG at the University of Warwick.
For the TE-1 Prototype, Triumph provided the final chassis, cockpit, wheels, transmission, carbon belt drive, and electronics. It also features Öhlins USD cartridge forks, unique prototype Öhlins RSU, Brembo M50 monobloc callipers, and Triumph motorcycle control software.
Williams Advanced Engineering provided the WAE battery pack for the final iteration of the prototype, incorporating dedicated cell packaging for optimum centre of gravity, vehicle control unit, DC-DC converter, integrated cooling, charge port, and styled carbon covers.
The powertrain for the final prototype was developed by Integral Powertrain, which features a scalable integrated inverter and combined motor with silicon carbide switching technology as well as integrated cooling. This motor is capable of 500kW, which works out to approximately 671hp. Integral says the motors can be made using materials compatible with volume automotive production.
The TE-1 Prototype will now move on to Phase 4, which will largely entail testing on a rolling road as well as a track over the next six months. Some of the tests include throttle calibration, thermal optimisation, acceleration, handling, among others.
Post the completion of Phase 4, the prototype will be updated with its final body panels and paint schemes. A big plus for TE-1 demonstrator is that it resembles the Triumph Street Triple, which is a good thing to begin with.
Do you think the Triumph TE-1 prototype will be successful if put into production, and will it convince a petrolhead to go electric? Let us know in the comments below.
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