Plug-in bikes from Triumph
Let’s get them out the way here and now: shock new Triumph; watt Hinckley plan; battery of futuristic bikes; Triumph charge into the future; Brits employ current thinking; Triumph line up on the (national) grid... Yes, Triumph are working on electric bikes. They’ve plunged into a two-year scheme known as Project TE1, that’ll ‘provide significant input into potential future electric motorcycle offers’, and sees them working with outfits established in electrickery. WMG at the University of Warwick bring battery tech from cars, trains and planes. Integral Powertrain have 20 years experience with major automotive manufacturers, Williams (as in the F1 team) are wading in, and it’s partially funded by the government and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles. It’s a serious do.
‘Our future product strategy is focused on delivering the most suitable engine platforms for the changing landscape,’ reckons Triumph’s chief product officer, Steve Sargent. ‘We see a Triumph electric powertrain as a significant requirement alongside twin and triple cylinder engines. Project TE1 represents an exciting collaboration that will provide valuable input into our future line-up.’ There’s no battery-packed Bonneville on the horizon yet. The project is as much about increasing UK expertise as it is about coming up with an actual electric bike. But it’s a definite statement of intent: there will be electric Triumphs.
And perhaps sooner than we’d have guessed. Which is good, as other firms have got the holeshot. We already knew Ducati are working on electric, and now you can buy one. Sort of. They’ve got a licence agreement with Super Soco who make the CUX scooter – the UK’S most popular electric two-wheeler. The limited-edition CUX Ducati will help create subconscious links between Ducati and electric power, ready for the real deal. The scooter does 100 miles on less than a quid and costs £2299 after government grant.