Finally! Electric goes Triumph TE-1 prototype

Triumph goes electric in style
Project Triumph TE-1 has just been revealed in completed prototype form.
To get to this stage Triumph Motorcycles set up a collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), Integral Powertrain Ltd, and WMG at the University of Warwick. The project is funded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles through Innovate UK. This fund was set up to create ground-breaking developments in specialist electric motorcycle engineering and innovative integrated technology design.
Well, as far as looks go they are on the right track at least.

Next stage
Marking the official end of the collaboration stage of the TE-1 project, the completed demonstrator is now fully ready for the next Triumph-led stage of the project to begin – the live testing programme – integrating for the first time all of the latest and final innovations from the project partner workstreams.

Energy source
The WAE battery pack incorporates dedicated cell packaging for optimum centre of gravity, vehicle control unit, DCDC converter, integrated cooling, charge port, and styled carbon covers. This all-new WAE-developed powertrain will set new standards for electric bike performance, with class-leading power, efficiency, charging time and range.
Wholly responsible for TE-1’s lightweight, ground-breaking battery system, WAE has employed a holistic approach to development which will allow riders to use more electric power for longer, providing access to outstanding performance regardless of battery charge, alongside rapid charging times.

Proper power
The all-new battery has peak power of 170kW and continuous power of 90kW, with a capacity of 15kWh. This enables the motorbike to deliver 130kW of peak power and 80kW of continuous power. Class leading system cooling combined with the optimum balance of power and energy means TE-1 can give the rider more electric power for longer and deliver outstanding performance regardless of battery charge. The 360-volt system also enables a fast-charging time of under 20mins (0-80%), which is combined with a market leading target range.

Weight balance
WAE has optimised the battery module layout to balance mass and positioning within the prototype chassis taking into consideration centre of gravity, space and relationship with the powertrain and charging approach. A new and bespoke vehicle control unit has been integrated into the battery pack to minimise weight and packaging.
Key project achievements during this phase include test results that exceed current benchmarks and targets set by the UK Automotive Council for 2025, providing a platform with great potential for future development in electric motorcycle performance.

The overall objective of the TE-1 project has been focused on developing electric motorcycle capability, in order to provide an input into Triumph’s future electric motorcycle offering, driving innovation, capability, and new intellectual property, and enhancing the credibility and profile of British industry and design.
With the completion of the prototype demonstrator, the full live testing phase of the TE-1 project will now begin. Over the next six months the prototype demonstrator will undertake an extensive live testing programme within Triumph’s state-of-the-art facilities, including rolling road and track testing, designed to provide direction into the final set up and calibration of the prototype demonstrator.

Going live
At the completion of the live testing phase, estimated to be Summer 2022, the prototype demonstrator will be updated with its final body panels in readiness for active track demonstration. At this time, final specifications and testing outcomes will be published, as well as insights and key facts on how the TE-1 delivers on the project targets including final battery and range performance.

If Triumph are looking for volunteers, the BikeBrewers team members are ready to pack their toothbrush in a jiffy.

What the boss says
As we do not take any marketing speak for granted, we gave the Triumph Motorcycles CEO Nick Bloor a call. Here’s what he has to say: “It has been truly exciting to see the progress made during phase 3 of Project Triumph TE 1 with the final prototype motorcycle now going into real life testing. Everyone involved at Triumph is proud to have been part of this innovative British collaboration. Personally, I am thrilled with the results we have already achieved with our partners, and the exciting preview of the potential electric future to come. We look forward to continuing the ambitious and innovative work on the TE-1 demonstrator prototype through the live testing phase and sharing the outcome with Triumph fans across the world.”
The demonstrator bike is now undergoing final battery level validation and calibration to ensure the performance results meet best-in-class power and energy density targets and for the rider, ensuring there is no compromise in performance at low levels of charge.

Our point of view
BikeBrewers are deeply rooted in the custom scene. We are purebred petrolheads by definition.
Still, we do recognize that electric is an important factor in future mobility. We are regularly testing electric bikes and are in general quite enthusiastic about the experiences we have had. There are quite a number of road tests on electric motorcycles scheduled for 2022 and we will continue to report and share our findings.

But truth be told, after each electric adventure our hearts jump with joy each time we get back on our loud, smelly and noisy machines.
That is just us speaking though.

What we REALLY want to know is how YOU feel about all this!
Please share your uncensored comments on this bike and riding electric with us.
We have some nice give-aways in store for the best comments.

More background on WAE can be found here