Famed Brit bike brand Triumph unveils electric prototype

March 27, 2021April 8, 2021 John Carey 1965 Views Triumph, Triumph electric motorcycle, Triumph TE-1

Triumph this week revealed first styling sketches for its Project TE-1 prototype electric motorcycle, along with the actual powertrain to be installed in it.

“This important project will provide one of the foundations for our future electric motorcycle strategy,” according to Triumph chief executive Nick Bloor.

The sketches show a modern and minimalistic naked bike. Sports roadster is the way chief product officer Steve Sargent describes the look. The style is deliberately similar to Triumph’s existing, ICE-powered Speed and Street Triple families, he says.

Style of the Triumph TE-1 echoes look of the existing, ICE-powered Street and Speed Triple

“We’re all looking forward to having a complete, ridable bike, which we’re expecting later in 2021,” Sargent adds.

Powering it will be an innovative, motorcycle-optimised battery, motor, inverter and control electronics package developed in collaboration with Triumph’s three partners in the project.

Williams Advanced Engineering, an offshoot of the Williams Formula One team and supplier of Formula E battery packs, was responsible for the battery and its management system. Both are housed in a cast aluminium case that will be a structural part of the TE-1’s frame.

“The energy density of this new battery will be a significant step forward from existing technology, giving the rider more power, for longer,” promises Dyrr Ardash of WAE. The battery pack will also deliver “class-leading range”, he says.

Triumph has already designed TE-1 frame to accept prototype powertrain

Another British company, Integral Powertrain, came up with an integrated motor and inverter design that’s remarkably light and compact. The motor weighs only 10kg, but has produced 130kW in testing. This is an outstanding number. It’s also the only specification included in the TE-1 release.

Warwick University provided modelling and simulation services during the development process, as well as sophisticated rig testing facilities.

Project TE-1 will officially come to an end with construction and testing of the completed prototype motorcycle. But the effort that’s been invested in designing and developing its powertrain means that it’s certain to become the blueprint for future Triumph production bikes.

John Carey

Grew up in country NSW, way back when petrol was laced with lead. Has written about cars and the car business for more than 35 years, working full-time and freelance for leading mags, major newspapers and websites in Australia and (sometimes) overseas. Avidly interested in core EV technologies like motors and batteries, and believes the switch to electromobility definitely should be encouraged. Is waiting patiently for someone to make a good and affordable EV that will fit inside his tiny underground garage in northern Italy, where he's lived for the past decade. Likes the BMW i3, but it's just too damned wide...