Triumph Motorcycles has just completed the development of its all-electric TE-1 and while it won’t directly spawn a direct production version, it will pave the way for future electric motorcycles from the company.
The TE-1 was developed with help from Williams Advanced Engineering, Integral Powertrain, and the University of Warwick. It is powered by a single electric motor driving the rear wheel and pumping out an impressive 175 hp, not far off some class-leading 1,000 cc super sports bikes.
Providing this motor with its juice is a small battery pack from Williams that gives the TE-1 up to 100 miles (161 km) of range. It can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in a brisk 3.6 seconds, 100 mph (160 km/h) in 6.2 seconds, and can be charged from 0-80 per cent in 20 minutes. Triumph notes that with a curb weight of 220 kg (485 lbs), it is 25 per cent lighter than comparable electric motorcycles currently on the market.
“Williams Advanced Engineering [WAE] are delighted to have been involved in this exciting programme to deliver the TE-1 prototype,” the company said in a statement. “Since its conception in 2018, all the partners have worked with collaboration, innovation and passion to bring the boundary breaking prototype to life. It is pleasing to hear positive rider comments which confirms that the dynamics of the bike are aligned with Triumph’s DNA. 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.”
Triumph’s final development tests of the TE-1 were conducted on both a dyno and on a race track.
“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,” Triumph Motorcycles chief executive Nick Bloor added. “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.”
