Tag Archives: Electric motor

German Parts Manufacturer Releases Contactless EV Motor

It seems like the whole world is rushing to find fuel-efficient solutions and cut down on emissions.

Europe is introducing more low-emission zones. France planning to take that goal further with zero-emission (as they do). Now, Mahle, a German automotive parts manufacturer, has just contributed to their part in the race for clean air.

The German manufacturer has managed to create an EV motor that removes the need for rare earth magnets, creating a contactless electric current opposition in a motor that boasts 95% efficiency.

Miraculously enough, they’ve managed to do so without running into additional component shortages, as many other manufacturers have experienced. 

demonstration of the anatomy of Mahle's EV motor

In a traditional EV motor, a coil of wire spins encircled by magnets. When the coil’s electric current emits its own little magnetic field, it opposes the magnetic field emitted by the magnets. The opposition of fields causes the coil to spin or rotate at high speed, creating harnessed energy to power a machine from point A to B.

According to Mahle‘s website, the motor uses electric currents exclusively, with contactless power transmission. Electrical currents between the rotating and stationary parts inside the motor don’t allow those parts to touch, making the entire component wear-free.

The possibilities really are limitless since ‘contactless’ in this context means a maintenance-free motor with almost no need to replace individual components.

Not only that, Mahle’s contactless inductive EV motor effective – particularly at high speeds – with a 95% efficiency previously only seen in formula E cars.

demonstration of EV motor owned by Mahle

Call to challenge exhaust noise fines sign noise cameras

“With our new electric motor, we’re living up to our responsibility as a sustainably operating company,” says Michael Frick, Chairman of the MAHLE Management Board (ad interim) and CFO. “Dispensing with magnets and therefore the use of rare earth elements offers great potential not only from a geopolitical perspective but also with regard to the responsible use of nature and resources.”

Dr. Martin Berger, Vice President Corporate Research and Advanced Engineering at MAHLE, also says the following:

“Our magnet-free motor can certainly be described as a breakthrough because it provides several advantages that have not yet been combined in a product of this type. As a result, we can offer our customers a product with outstanding efficiency at a comparatively low cost.”

Mahle has released their new generation of EV motors to the masses on their website, with plans to further implement the motors into the vehicle industry in the coming years – and I’m excited to see what this means for the motorcycle industry.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Meet the Efesto hybrid Ducati with 299hp!

French start-up Efesto has developed a hybrid drive kit system for motorcycles, delivering a scintillating 299hp in their Ducati Panigale 1299 prototype.

Efesto MD Luca Morfino contacted us to tell us they are serious about taking the hybrid kit to market after some more testing. There is no word on pricing yet.

We have written about several motorcycle manufacturers’ plans for hybrids, such as BMW, Furion, Honda, Kawasaki, TVS, Yamaha and even the US Army.

But the Efesto hybrid kit is the first we have head of that will attach to an existing fuel-powered bike.

It consists of a 100hp electric motor, battery pack and chain drive, plus electronic controls that allow the rider to select the Ducati engine, the electric motor or a combination of the two, yielding 299hp and 300Nm of torque.

Luca unveiled the Efesto protoype at the recent EICMA motorcycle show in Milan.

On the prototype, the electric motor sits underneath the bike, but Luca says it does not compromise clearance or lean angles.

Meet the Efesto hybrid Ducati with 299hp!
Electric motor

The inverter is hidden behind the radiator and the high-voltage battery pack is installed below the tail subframe. It looks a bit ugly, but it’s not as bad as some electric bikes we’ve seen.

Meet the Efesto hybrid Ducati with 299hp!
Battery pack

The electric motor is connected via chain to the secondary shaft.

Rider modesMeet the Efesto hybrid Ducati with 299hp!

Riders can select the power mode via a control on the left switchblock.

Mode 1 is purely Ducati’s 205hp L-twin engine. Meanwhile, the battery is being recharged by taking some of the engine’s power and through regenerative braking.

The battery can only be recharged via these methods using Efesto’s special software. You cannot plug in the battery to the mains to recharge.

To select mode 2 for pure electric drive, the rider has to select neutral and switch off the Ducati engine.Meet the Efesto hybrid Ducati with 299hp!

In this mode, it is twist-and-go like a scooter with no gears.

Luca claims it will ride for 30 to 40 minutes in urban traffic below 70km/h.

He says this makes it legal to ride in some CBDs where there are emissions restrictions.

In mode 3, or “Boost” mode, the Ducati engine and electric motor share drive.

Mode 4 is a custom mode where the rider can set their desired combination of torque and power.

Efesto hybrid Ducati tech specsMeet the Efesto hybrid Ducati with 299hp!

Since the Panigale weighs 190kg with a full tank and this prototype weighs 194kg dry, the electric motor, inverter and battery must weigh about 20kg.

Luca says they have patents for the “anti-spinning and anti-wheeling” electric control system and the counter-rotating electric motor.

Internal Combustion Engine

Engine type

Superquadro: L-twin cylinder, 4 valve per cylinder, Desmodromic, liquid cooled.

Displacement

1285cc

Bore x stroke

116 x 60.8mm

Power

143kW (205hp) @ 10,500rpm

Torque

145Nm @ 8750rpm

Electric Motor Generator

Motor type

Axial Flux Synchronous Motors and Generator

Liquid cooled

IP 65

Weight

9.4kg

Diameter ø / width

208/85mm

Rated battery voltage

355Vdc

Peak Power

80kW (108 HP)

Peak Torque

150Nm

Torque

150Nm

Meet the Efesto hybrid Ducati with 299hp!

Chassis

Frame

Aluminium box

Front Suspension

MUPO SBK 46mm

Front Wheel

Marchesini forged 3,50” x 17”

Front Tyre

Dunlop Sportmax D213 GP PRO-2 120/70 ZR17

Rear Suspension

Sachs

Rear Wheel

Marchesini forged 5.50” x 17”

Rear Tyre

Dunlop Sportmax D213 GP PRO-2 200/60 ZR17

Wheel Travel (front/rear)

120mm (4,72 in) – 130mm (5,12 in)

Front Brake

2 x 320mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo 4-piston callipers, with Bosch ABS

Rear Brake

245mm disc, 2-piston calliper, with Bosch ABS

Meet the Efesto hybrid Ducati with 299hp!

Dimensions and Weights

Dry weight

194kg

Seat

850mm

Wheelbase

1460mm

Rake

24°

Front Wheel Trail

96mm

Fuel Tank Capacity

17 litres

Number of Seats

One seat

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com