Automotive Engineering - June 2021 - 10

TECHNOLOGY REPORT
A TE-1 prototype main
frame section with
WAE liquid-cooled
battery pack on display
(at left), with one of
the electric sportbike's
mass, package
and performance
benchmarks -
a 2021 Triumph Speed
Triple 1200 RS - in the
background.
The 181-hp, threecylinder
Speed Triple's
wet weight is 437 lb.
A combination of WAE's battery management system with
motorcycle control functions in a single package is a significant
part of the TE-1 development work and was one of the project's
original design targets. Triumph and WAE regarded a combined
unit to be essential for minimizing both weight and package
requirements: " Why have two components when one can
perform the same function? " asked McNamara. He explained
that the Motorcycle Controller (MCC), integrated with the BMS
and Triumph's own motorcycle-control functions, optimizes
power and energy management in a " refined " electric product.
To tackle the TE-1's overall weight (a challenge across the
electric motorcycle industry) and cost, the team employed a
" holistic energy management " approach. McNamara said
WAE's next generation module technology deployed on TE-1,
allowed a " significant " improvement in cell-to-pack mass ratio.
" This, together with a view to maximize energy efficiency,
has enabled a significant improvement in miles per kilowatthour
than we currently see in the marketplace. It has allowed
us to have a smaller battery that delivers on performance and
will be cost-effective yet achieves a very impressive range
figure, " which he has not yet divulged.
Motorsport packaging targets
With Phase 2 completed, McNamara discussed the challenges
for TE-1 still ahead. " The levels of system integration into the
packaging envelope have been significant, but WAE is used to
this from our motorsport projects, " he said. One area that surprised
his team is the degree to which they were pushed by
Triumph to optimize mass distribution. Precise, confidence-inspiring
handling is a critical part of Triumph's product DNA, he
noted, " and their attention to detail towards optimizing the dynamics
of the bike impressed and challenged us. " The integrated
battery system is meeting " all class-leading " specification targets, "
McNamara said. Next comes the bike's testing phases,
including " design validation and optimization of the control
functions to maximize performance, efficiency, and range. "
Despite any possible pandemic effect, McNamara regards
the first phases of the TE-1 project as demonstrating a successful
collaborative engineering partnership. Relationships
between the parties existed prior to the project, he noted,
and were cemented during the early phases of the submission
to the U.K. government for funding.
Stuart Birch
MANAGEMENT
WCX 2021: Systems thinking pushing ahead
There's a revolution brewing as engineers
develop electric and autonomous
vehicles that require multiple layers of
complicated systems to come together.
" This is the time in the automotive in10
June 2021
dustry where we are at an immense inflection
point, and without systems engineering,
none of this would be possible, "
said Joaquin Nuno-Whelan, VP of hardware
for Motional Inc., an autonomous
vehicle company formed by a joint venture
between Hyundai Motor Group
and supplier Aptiv.
Nuno-Whelan and other automotive
industry panelists stressed the importance
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES
Automotive Engineering - June 2021

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