Triumph are looking to the future and that future, according to them, is electric. They have announced a collaboration with UK Industry experts, academic leaders, and Innovate UK to develop the future of motorcycle electric drive technology, control systems, and integration over the next two years, right here in the UK.
The partners involved in the collaboration with Triumph are Williams Advanced Engineering, Integral Powertrain's e-Drive division, the University of Warwick, and Innovate UK. The project is called Triumph TE-1 and is dedicated to developing electric drive technology for future motorcycles.
"This new collaboration represents an exciting opportunity for Triumph and its partners to be leaders in the technology that will enable the electrification of motorcycles, which is driven by customers striving to reduce their environmental impact, combined with the desire for more economical transportation, and changing legislation," said Nick Bloor, Triumph CEO. "Project Triumph TE-1 is one part of our electric motorcycle strategy, focused on delivering what riders want and expect from their Triumph, which is the perfect balance of handling, performance and usability."
Triumph Motorcycles will lead 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 characteristics.
Williams Advanced Engineering will provide industry-leading lightweight battery design and integration capability, using its test and development facilities to deliver an innovative battery management system combined with vehicle control unit.
Integral Powertrain Ltd's e-Drive Division will lead the development of bespoke power-dense electric motors and a silicon carbide inverter, integrating both into a singular motor housing.
WMG, at the University of Warwick will provide electrification expertise, and the critical vision to drive innovation from R&D to commercial impact, through modelling and simulation based on future market needs.
Innovate UK, the government agency that promotes science and technology programmes expected to grow the UK economy, will support the partners and administer funds. This forms part of the BEIS modern funding strategy with the aim of creating a market-leading UK electric vehicle capability.
This is exactly what British Industry should be doing - investing in the future to develop potentially world-leading technology. We already had a big hint that Triumph were working towards electric technology due to various Trade Mark activity. Although the TE-1 project is not going to deliver an actual electric motorcycle, it will provide the technology that can be used to develop an actual electric motorcycle - and that could see the old Trident name brought back into use.
